Iran voices support to Iraq's new government

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has voiced Iran's support to Iraq's new government and the establishment of full security in the country.

Mottaki made the remarks after he returned from a two-day visit to Iraq, the official IRNA news agency reported on Sunday.

Referring to the current situation in Iraq, Mottaki said there is a collective intention among regional countries for the establishment of full security in Iraq. A meeting of Iraq's neighboring countries and Egypt will be held in Tehran soon.

Tehran and Baghdad have decided to set up a supreme headquarters, which will be presided over by the Iranian first vice president and the Iraqi prime minister, in charge of mutual ties.

Iran favors expansion of bilateral economic and trade relations, Mottaki said.

Iran has allocated 1 billion U.S. dollars of credit to boost exports to Iraq and to expedite the implementation of various projects in Iraq.

The two sides also discussed the possibility of setting up a border security committee to coordinate activities to confront possible provocations.

The two countries have decided to open up a number of consulates as a new chapter in bilateral relations. Iran will open consulates in Arbil, Sulaymaniyeh and Karbala and resume consulate in Basra. Iraq will open consulates in Khorramshahr, Mashhad and Kermanshah, according to IRNA.

Source: Xinhua