Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Al-Maliki asks Iran to help control al-Qaeda infiltration
Regional politics
On Tuesday Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki made his first official visit to Iran where he met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Al-Maliki asked for Iran's help in cracking down on al-Qaida militants infiltrating his country and seeking new deals to help Iraq's troubled oil industry.
The two coutnries enjoy increasingly strong ties that include new oil cooperation. Iraq has already turned to Iran for help with a chronic shortage of petroleum goods, reaching a deal last month to import Iranian gasoline, kerosene and cooking fuel. Iraqi officials said al-Maliki's visit and other recent exchanges could improve the cooperation.
The United States, an enemy of Iran, has repeatedly accused Tehran of interfering in Iraqi politics and allowing insurgents to cross the porous 1,000-mile border. Iran denies the claims.
"All our assistance to the Iraqi people will be to establish complete security" in Iraq, Ahmadinejad told a joint press conference, according to the state-run news agency. "Iran and Iraq enjoy historical relations. These relations go beyond neighbourly ties. Our relations will remain excellent," he said. Al-Maliki said his visit would be "a turning point in the expansion of relations between Iran and Iraq that enjoy historical and ancient ties."
Asked about allegations that Iran was interfering in Iraq, al-Maliki said, "There is no obstacle in the way of implementing agreements between Iran and Iraq. We consider Iraq's progress, independence and territorial integrity as our own," Ahmadinejad said. He added that Iran hoped "unwanted guests will leave the region," a reference to U.S. forces in Iraq. Al-Maliki said "Iraq is willing to expand its relations with Iran in the area of political and economic arenas especially energy and water."
The two coutnries enjoy increasingly strong ties that include new oil cooperation. Iraq has already turned to Iran for help with a chronic shortage of petroleum goods, reaching a deal last month to import Iranian gasoline, kerosene and cooking fuel. Iraqi officials said al-Maliki's visit and other recent exchanges could improve the cooperation.
The United States, an enemy of Iran, has repeatedly accused Tehran of interfering in Iraqi politics and allowing insurgents to cross the porous 1,000-mile border. Iran denies the claims.
"All our assistance to the Iraqi people will be to establish complete security" in Iraq, Ahmadinejad told a joint press conference, according to the state-run news agency. "Iran and Iraq enjoy historical relations. These relations go beyond neighbourly ties. Our relations will remain excellent," he said. Al-Maliki said his visit would be "a turning point in the expansion of relations between Iran and Iraq that enjoy historical and ancient ties."
Asked about allegations that Iran was interfering in Iraq, al-Maliki said, "There is no obstacle in the way of implementing agreements between Iran and Iraq. We consider Iraq's progress, independence and territorial integrity as our own," Ahmadinejad said. He added that Iran hoped "unwanted guests will leave the region," a reference to U.S. forces in Iraq. Al-Maliki said "Iraq is willing to expand its relations with Iran in the area of political and economic arenas especially energy and water."
