Iran advocates withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq, Salehi says
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Baghdad, Iraq, Jan 5, IRNA -- Caretaker of Foreign Ministry Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday that Iran advocates withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq at the earliest.
In a meeting with the Iraqi Parliament Speaker Osama al-Najifi, Salehi said that Iraq serves as a bridge between the Islamic world and Arabs.
'Iraqis are free and brave people,' Salehi said.
Salehi hoped that the Iraqi nation would gain their independence without the interference of alien forces.
Salehi said that having a strong parliament is necessary for a n independent country, adding that if the parliament supports a government, it will be successful.
'The Iraqi statesmen showed that their will originates from that of the Iraqi nation,' he said.
He said that he was pleased with the Iraqi national solidarity and that they have established a strong parliament.
He called for the resumption of activities of Iran-Iraq Friendship Association and hoped that agreements such as extradition of the prisoners signed between the two countries would take effect.
He noted that Iran is ready to make consultations with the Iraqi high-ranking officials -- President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki through Tehran-Baghdad commission on foreign policy and national security.
Salehi said that Iraqi parliament is expected to help hold Tehran-Baghdad commissions on regular basis.
'Iran favors Iraq's unity and security,' he said, stressing the need to conclude a regional treaty among Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria.
Such a treaty will help establish regional peace and security and solve economic problems, he said.
Al-Najifi said for his part that the Iraqis favor stability and security and are in need of assistance by the regional countries.
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