Iran's FM, Iraqi PM discuss bilateral ties

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, who is in Baghdad on an official visit, met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to discuss bilateral ties as well as the latest developments in the region. During the meeting held in Baghdad on Monday, Salehi underlined that Iranian officials are resolved "to remove barriers" to the expansion of the two neighboring countries' ties, and "prepare the ground for deepening and developing mutual cooperation". The Iranian officials also said that solidarity of the Iraqi nation and Baghdad's wise governance would guarantee a "brilliant future" for Iraq. Maliki, for his part, pointed to the two states' historical and religious commonalities, and described Iran-Iraq relations as important and influential. "Cooperation between Iran and Iraq is at a good level, yet both sides should try to further bolster this cooperation by removing the existing impediments," he noted. Salehi arrived in Baghdad yesterday after a daylong visit to Qatar. Upon arrival, Salehi was welcomed by his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari and a number of other Iraqi officials. Later, the Iranian foreign minister met with Talabani to discuss bilateral ties and cooperation. Also during the last night meeting, Salehi submitted a letter from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Talabani.