Iran, Iraq are natural friends: Ahmadinejad

12 August 2008

Tehran-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad underlined Iran and Iraq are natural friends.

In a meeting with visiting Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan Nichervan Barezani here Monday evening, Ahmadinejad stressed, "Iran stands with Iraqi people in all fields." President Ahmadinejad pointed out, "Our ties are so deep rooted that we can not be separated from each other and we are members of a family in which we must live together for long years."

He underlined that God almighty has placed Iran and Iraq as natural friends and this is a good opportunity for both nations.

The president called for serious efforts of all Iraqi groups to prevent activities of terrorist grouplets in Iraq.

Barezani, for his part, called Iran and Iraq ties historical and appreciated Iran's efforts to establish security in Iraq and added, "Tehran has always been with Iraqi people especially in hard situations and the Iraqi nation would never forget Iranians' help." He said, "We consider Iran's security as Iraq's and we will never allow our land turn into a point for creating crisis against Iran, because we consider Iran as our homeland, too."

Barezani also called for expansion of bilateral ties in different fields, especially increasing investment in Iraqi Kurdistan.

He concluded, "Iraq's senior officials are serious in preventing terrorist grouplets' activities against neighboring countries and added in this framework we are ready for cooperation.