IRAN: Iraqi deputy prime minister Barham Salih meets Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and Iranian speaker of parliament Ali Larijani in Tehran

Record ID: 313718

  • Title: IRAN: Iraqi deputy prime minister Barham Salih meets Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and Iranian speaker of parliament Ali Larijani in Tehran
  • Date: 15th August 2008
  • Summary: (MER-2) TEHRAN, IRAN (AUGUST 14, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF IRANIAN SECRETARY OF SUPREME NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SAEED JALILI MEETING WITH IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BARHAM SALIH VARIOUS OF SALIH MEETING WITH IRANIAN PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER ALI LARIJANI (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BARHAM SALIH, IRAQI DEPUTY OF PRIME MINISTER, SAYING: "The meetings were truly amicable and candid. We discussed recent political developments in Iraq and the region. We discussed the issues of the region. There were a few (Iranian) questions regarding the Iraqi-American treaty. I explained with accuracy and clarity the position of the Iraqi government. We strive for an understanding with the Americans that organises the presence of American forces in Iraq in a manner that guarantees Iraqi sovereignty and helps the Iraqi government and Iraqi forces perform their mission to combat terrorism and establish security and stability. We also asserted that these treaties will not in any way target the interests of the peoples of the region. We also discussed the necessity of communicating with the main countries of the region in order to achieve a regional security regime." SALIH WITH IRAQI DELEGATION IN HALL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BARHAM SALIH, IRAQI DEPUTY OF PRIME MINISTER, SAYING: "There is of course a decision to reactivate previous treaties. The border passageways are now active and commercial exchange between Iraq and Iran has reached 3 billion U.S. dollars. In light of the economic expansion that we expect in Iraq, we expect this commercial exchange to augment. This requires more facilitating measures such as free trade zones in the service of the private sector in both countries, within the agreed frameworks." BARHAM SALIH WITH IRAQI OFFICIALS LEAVING MEETING HALL
  • Embargoed: 30th August 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAGS76WQ1FLOFW3SD1GT3UYFGX
  • Story Text: Iraqi deputy prime minister Barham Salih met with Iranian supreme national security council chief Saeed Jalili and Iranian parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani on Thursday (August 14), on his second day of meetings with Iranian officials.
    Accompanied by a high-ranking delegation of Iraqi officials, Salih arrived in Tehran on Wednesday (August 13) to re-assure Iraq's powerful neighbour that an agreement to allow U.S. forces to remain in Iraq beyond the end of this year was not intended to harm Iranian interests.
    "The meetings were truly amicable and candid. We discussed recent political developments in Iraq and the region. We discussed the issues of the region. There were a few (Iranian) questions regarding the Iraqi-American treaty. I explained with accuracy and clarity the position of the Iraqi government. We strive for an understanding with the Americans that organises the presence of American forces in Iraq in a manner that guarantees Iraqi sovereignty and helps the Iraqi government and Iraqi forces perform their mission to combat terrorism and establish security and stability. We also asserted that these treaties will not in any way target the interests of the peoples of the region," Iraqi deputy prime minister Barham Saleh told reporters after the meetings.
    Iran had previously shown concern that Iraq was willing to give too many concessions to its arch-foe in talks on the long-term agreement.
    Iraq recently said any agreement would need a clear timeline to the eventual departure of U.S. troops as it seeks to regain its military independence from the already outstretched U.S. forces.
    In addition to a potential regional security arrangement, talks centred on promoting trade ties between the two countries.
    "There is of course a decision to reactivate previous treaties.
    The border passageways are now active and commercial exchange between Iraq and Iran has reached 3 billion U.S. dollars. In light of the economic expansion that we expect in Iraq, we expect this commercial exchange to augment. This requires more facilitating measures such as free trade zones in the service of the private sector in both countries, within the agreed frameworks,"
    Salih said.
    Salih held discussions with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Wednesday.
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