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Iran supports Iraqi independence

16 October 2010 19:22 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Iran’s Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar says Tehran has always supported Baghdad’s independence and the formation of a democratic government in Iraq, APA reports quoting Press TV.

"We have always stood by the Iraqi government and nation, and supported Iraq’s stability and securityâ€¦ and we hope the country’s National Alliance (INA) government is formed as soon as possible," Mohammad-Najjar said in a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Jawad Kadhim al-Bulani on Saturday.

"The stability, security and independence of this country, the formation of a government elected by the majority of the Iraqi people, and the withdrawal of foreign forces from the region are very important," ISNA quoted Mohammad-Najjar as saying.

The Iranian interior minister added that a number of border, security and counterdrug cooperation agreements were reached in the meeting.

"Iran and Iraq play important roles in different regional affairs, the two countries have common interestsâ€¦ and we can achieve our objectives including providing security and welfare for our country through the expansion and strengthening of these ties," al-Bulani said.

Regarding the Iraqi prime minister’s visit to Tehran, al-Bulani said that Nouri al-Maliki would discuss the development of economic and political cooperation between the two countries.

Maliki is slated to pay a one-day visit to Iran on Monday to hold talks with Iranian officials including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on major political and security issues.