06-11-05
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said independence,
freedom and establishing a powerful government in Iraq is to the interest of the
region.
In a meeting with the visiting Iraqi deputy prime minister and Head of Iraq
National Congress Ahmed Chalabi, he said a successful Constitutional Referendum
in Iraq provides sustainable conditions for establishing peace and stability in
the country.
Iran expects that through people's alertness and official' hard work a strong
government will be elected in Iraq, he said.
"Iraq territorial integrity and independence and strength are special concerns
for Iran."
The president also expressed concern on terrorism gripping Iraq and loss of
lives of many innocent people saying that "these events are the tragic outcome
of the occupation by foreign forces."
"Insecurity is an excuse for the continuation of the presence of US forces in
the region."
Ahmadinejad further welcomed the Iraqi initiative for drawing a timeline for
the withdrawal of foreign forces form the country. Iran believes that Iraq
desperately needs a strong government which is backed by the people, the Iranian
president added.
Ahmadinejad said that Iraq needs to strive for expansion of ties with its
neighbours as a way to thwart the plots for stoking religious and sectarian
rows.
Elsewhere in his statements, he alluded to the need for expansion of
bilateral economic and trade relations. Iran is prepared to provide its
experiences in various economic spheres to Iraq and meet Iraq's transit needs
from its southern and northern ports, he said.
Tehran also expects that the project of laying of oil pipeline between Abadan
and Basra, linking the electricity grid of the two countries and building a
railroad between the two nations are carried out as soon as possible,
Ahmadinejad underlined.
Chalabi thanked Iran for support rendered in establishing stability and
security in Iraq.
He also called for closer ties in all areas notably economic and trade including
what Iran's president highlighted as development and infrastructure projects as
priorities.
Source: PIN