Iran's Mottaki arrives in Iraq

[Robbien]

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki arrived here Friday morning heading a high-ranking political delegation just before end of the first week of the new Iraqi government's tenure.

He was welcomed at Baghdad's airport by his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Mahmud al-Zebari and the country's permanent Representative to the United Nations Hamid al-Bayati.

Mottaki's visit to Baghdad is taking place before the new government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maleki ends its first week in office.

The visit indicates the high importance Tehran attaches to the Iran-Iraq relations both in the bilateral and regional fields.

During his stay in Iraq, the Iranian minister will hold separate meetings with senior Iraqi officials including President Jalal Talabani, prime minister al-Maleki and the country's parliamentary officials.

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0605263846105511.htm

[wakeme2008]

1. Did Bush approve of this meeting or is the Iraq govt really independent

:rofl:

[cal04]

2. Iran has right to peaceful nuclear work - Iraq

Iraq said on Friday that Iran had the right to develop a peaceful nuclear programme. "We respect and confirm the right of the Republic of Iran and the right of any other state to have scientific and technological abilities to research in the field of nuclear energy for peaceful uses," Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said during a news conference with his Iranian counterpart.

"We don't want any of our neighbours to have weapons of mass destruction," Zebari added. He was speaking after talks with Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, who arrived in Baghdad earlier on Friday.

Mottaki was also due to meet Iraq's new prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, less than a week after the Shi'ite Islamist formed his U.S.-backed national unity government. Washington and Tehran are fiercely at odds at the moment over Western accusations that Iran's nuclear power programme is a cover for making weapons.

http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/Iran_has_right_to_peaceful_nuclear_work_Iraq.html?siteSect=143&sid=6752835&cKey=1148639034000