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Federal Iraqi PM on historic visit to
ex-foe Iran
17.7.2005
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LONDON, July 17 -
Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari arrived in Iran
on the first such visit to the former bitter enemy
since the fall of Saddam Hussein, calling for the
two countries to settle their differences.
"Whether we like it or not, we are neighbours, and
we should resolve our differences in a way
beneficial to both parties," Jaafari said after
being greeted at the airport by Iran's Vice
President Mohammad Reza Aref, AFP reported.
"Relations with Iran are very important to us," he
said after receiving a military salute.
For his part, Aref said Jaafari's visit "turns over
a new page in the improvement of our relations in
every way".
Saying the future would bring a "significant
transformation in our relations," Aref added that
Iran was "ready to aid Iraq from every angle --
political, security, economic. It will be complete
cooperation".
Echoing comments made recently on both sides, he
added: "Security in Iraq is also our security."
Jaafari heads a delegation of around 10 ministers
seeking to improve relations between the two
countries that waged a war between 1980 and 1988 in
which around one million people died.
Iranian Intelligence Minister Ali Yunessi said
earlier that "the two countries will sign several
protocols in the political, economic and security
fields."
Yunessi told journalists "we are going to lay the
groundwork for security cooperation between the two
countries. The Islamic republic accords a great
importance to security in Iraq and considers that
our security is linked to that of Iraq."
Jaafari is also expected to sign a number of deals
to aid the war-torn country in meeting its growing
energy needs.
Under one, Iraq would provide crude oil to Iran
through a pipeline connecting the southern Iraqi
port of Basra with Abadan. In return, Iraq would
receive an equivalent amount of refined products
coming from Central Asia via Caspian Sea ports in
Iran.
Iraqi Oil Minister Ibrahim Bahr al-Ulum said that
"in two days we will sign a memorandum: 150,000
barrels a day of crude will be shipped from Iraq to
Iran, and 50 million litres of refined products from
Iran to Iraq. The project will be operational with a
year.
At the same time, he said it was envisioned that
Iranian companies would participate in the
rebuilding of the Iraqi oil industry.
Another deal will be signed to link the two
countries' electricity networks.
Among those expected to be accompanying Jaafari were
Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari and Defence Minister
Saadun al-Dulaimi, who was in Tehran only a week
ago.
During that visit, Dulaimi called for reconciliation
between the former arch-foes and pledged not to
allow Iraqi soil to be used to launch attacks
against the Islamic republic.
"I have come to Iran to ask forgiveness for what
Saddam Hussein has done," he said, referring to the
ousted president's 1980 attack on Iran that sparked
the war.
Iraq recently acceded to Iranian calls for
additional war crimes charges to be laid against
Saddam and his top aides in connection with the war.
Tehran and Baghdad resumed diplomatic relations last
September but no peace treaty has yet been signed
and Iran has demanded billions of dollars in
reparations.
Jaafari, who spent years in exile in Iran, heads a
Shiite-dominated government whose members are
sympathetic to Iran's Shiite theocracy. His visit
follows one to Baghdad in May by Iranian Foreign
Minister Kamal Kharazi.
While in Iran he is expected to meet with Kharazi,
as well as with outgoing President Mohammad Khatami,
president-elect Mahmood Ahmadejari and supreme
leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Washington has repeatedly accused Iran of
interfering in Iraqi affairs.
Speaking to reporters this week in Washington, the
new US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said
"it is not the US policy to advocate or promote a
hostile relationship between Iraq and Iran. They are
neighbours. We want to see these two countries have
good relations with each other.
"But good relations also mean ... there is not
interference in Iraqi affairs. Good relations with
regard to all the neighbours means not to seek to
dominate particular Iraqi institutions or Iraqi
areas," he added.
www.iranmania.com
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