Tehran, Oct 3, IRNA – Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said on Wednesday that expansion of Tehran-Baghdad defense cooperation is the main contributor to peace and stability of the entire region.
He made the remarks in a meeting with the Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier-General Ahmad Vahidi who is currently in Baghdad.
Vahidi’s Iraq visit is the first by an Iranian Defense Minister since the victory of the Islamic Revolution 1979.
Expressing pleasure over Vahidi’s trip to Iraq, Maliki called for further development of Tehran-Baghdad defense cooperation.
“Given the regional situation, promoting bilateral ties in the field of defense will contribute a lot to regional peace and stability,” he said.
Hailing Iran’s achievements in the various sectors, he appreciated Iranian participation in Iraq’s reconstruction.
Vahidi, for his part, lauded Iraq’s regional policies as being based on peace and friendship and serving interests of regional states.
He said that the two countries’ defense ties can serve as a role model for the other regional states to follow suit.
“Given the fact that Iran has undertaken leadership of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Iraq has taken over the periodical presidency of Arab League, they can jointly play a crucial role in settling crises and curbing regional conflicts,” Vahidi said.
He appreciated the Iraqi government’s efforts to expel the terrorist MKO members from Iraq and said that regional states are able to eradicate terrorism and insecurity in the region through cooperation and joint efforts.
