Tehran, Feb 28 (IANS) Iran always wanted to expand its relations and cooperate with Iraq, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani at their summit meeting here Friday.
“We will grant Iraq all our experiences in all relevant fields and from our side, there is no limit for expanding cooperation with our friends and brothers in Iraq,” Ahmadinejad told Talabani during their first round of talks, the official IRNA news agency reported.

The Iranian president also told Talabani that the four-way cooperation between Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey was vital for establishing the basis of long-term security in the war-torn country.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Energy Minister Parviz Fattah, Urban Developement Minister Mohammad Saeedikia and several other dignitaries were present at the the meeting.

The Iraqi president thanked Tehran for its the solidarity and support for Iraq following the collapse of the Saddam Hussein regime. He also said the groundwork had been laid for the maximum expansion of bilateral ties.

The two sides agreed to focus their cooperation on political, military, security, cultural and commercial fields.

Talabani, who is leading a high-level Iraqi delegation, arrived in Tehran late Thursday and was welcomed by Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

During his three-day visit, Talabani will meet Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, parliament speaker Ali Larijani and the country’s judiciary chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi.

– Indo-Asian News Service

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