|
Iran and Iraq on Sunday discussed the remaining issues of the 1980-1988 war between the two neighbors, which are stumbling blocks to the normalization of their ties.
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi reiterated, in a meeting with his visiting Iraqi counterpart Naji Sabri, Iran's "political will to settle the problems and pave the ground for coexistence," the official IRNA news agency reported.
"Resolving the remaining problems of the war and removing blocks in the human field, travel of Iranian pilgrims (to Shia pilgrimage sites in Iraq) as well as trade are Iran's points of attention," Kharazi said.
Referring to the two countries' claims on the presence of more prisoners of war in each other's jails, Kharazi said "the Islamic Republic of Iran is expecting the file of human issues to be closed as soon as possible."
Kharazi called for "firm Iraqi cooperation" to promote coexistence between the two neighbors, while reiterating the implementation of the 1975 accord which demarcates Iran-Iraq borders as "the basis to guarantee security" along their borders.
The Iranian foreign minister also renewed Tehran's opposition toa probable US attack on Iraq and urged Baghdad to cooperate with the United Nations in order to avert a regional crisis.
"It is now up to Iraq to prevent from the escalation of tension and crisis by cooperating with the United Nations," he said.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is following up regional developments with sensitivity and has focused its efforts on averting any war since it will endanger security in the region," Kharazi stressed.
On his part, Sabri said "we hope such visits will reduce misunderstandings and problems between the two countries."
"Iraq seeks to strengthen relations, remove any tension and put an end to the existing 'no war no peace' situation (in ties with Iran)," he added.
Sabri arrived in Tehran late Saturday for a two-day visit to Iran, carrying a message from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein for his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Khatami.
(Xinhua News Agency September 30, 2002)
|
