Mottaki: Terrorists have targeted Iraq’s democracy

Tehran, Dec 20, IRNA – Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that the enemies of Iraq recently involved in numerous terrorist crimes have targeted the country’s democracy and freedom.

According to the Information and Press Bureau of the ministry of foreign affairs, Mottaki made the remark in a meeting with visiting Iraqi high executive official Barham Saleh in Tehran on Saturday.

“We strongly condemn such crimes and believe that the will of the Iraqi nation will defeat terrorists and those targeting the country’s stability, development and unity,” he said.

Mottaki also hoped to witness successful holding of nationwide elections in Iraq to the dismay of to those opposed to the country’s political development.

Iraq enjoys high capabilities in mutual and regional equations, he pointed out.

Expansion of ties between Iran and Iraq should cover other areas such as culture and economy, Mottaki said.

Current volume of trade exchange between the two sides should be raised to dlrs five billion in the fields of commerce, oil, gas, transportation, telecommunications, culture and tourism, Mottaki said.

The Iraqi official, for his part, conveyed the warm greetings of the Iraqi president and said Iraq highly respects Iran and the country’s leadership is determined to broaden all-out ties and cooperation with Iran

“We are determined to increase current volume of trade exchange with Iran in various economic fields,” he said.

He also called for more consular facilities and establishment of direct flights, increase in volume of cultural cooperation and exchange of university students and setting up of Iranology departments in Iraqi universities./end