Iran-Iraq-Meet
Iran and Iraq here Tuesday discussed bilateral ties and recent developments in the region.
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, on the third day of an official visit here, met with Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.
"An Islamic, independent and democratic Iraq can be a good example for regional states. As shown by experience, the Iraqi people will succeed in achieving this goal," Rafsanjani said.
He cited insecurity and the presence of occupiers as the two main problems of Iraq at the present, giving the assurance that "the Islamic Republic of Iran would cooperate with the Iraqi government to help solve the security problem of the country."
He said the occupiers "would continue to face the problem of their continued presence in Iraq as the Iraqi nation was determined to form a popular government based on Islam."
The EC chairman highlighted Iran's principled policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of other states, including Iraq, and said the Iranian government would only be there to help the Iraqi nation and government solve their problems if requested." "The enemies of the Iranian and Iraqi peoples do not wish to see these two nations cooperate. Nonetheless, officials of the two sides should exploit favorable conditions at present to improve mutual relations in order to enhance their roles in regional and
international affairs."
Referring to the current situation in Palestine, particularly the ongoing missile attacks on Palestinian targets by the Zionist regime with the support of global arrogance, the United States in particular, he called for concerted efforts to defend the besieged Palestinian people against the atrocities of their occupiers.
"US policies backing atrocities of the Zionist regime shows the absence of goodwill and desire on its part to defend human rights and its assertions in this regard are sheer lies."
He criticized those who claim to be champions of human rights for their concern over the imprisonment of one Zionist soldier but whose consciences are not ignited by the suffering of 10,000 Palestinians, including hundreds of women and children languishing in Israeli prisons.
These people, he added, are the same people who "ignore the demands of tens of Muslim and Arab states and 1.5 billion Muslims" all over the world.
Al-Mashhadani, for his part, praised Iran for its support to the Iraqi people and called for consolidation of bilateral ties.
He said the formation of a new Iraq government and parliament based on the people's will shows the nation's will to govern their affairs by themselves, and stressed that the Iraqi government and parliament would continue to strive for independence.
The Iraqi parliamemnt speaker reiterated his appreciation for Iran's assistance and hoped the Iranian government and nation would continue to assist his country in achieving its goals.
During the meeting, a number of Iraqi MPs expressed their views on bilateral ties and the situation in the region.