IRNA Ready For Media Co-op With Iraq

Tehran, Feb 6, IRNA – IRNA Managing Director Majid Omidi Shahraki said on Tuesday that IRNA is ready for media cooperation with Iraq. ˈIRNA School of Media Studies is ready to admt the first group of Iraqi students,ˈ said Shahraki in a meeting with Iraq Ambassador to Tehran Mohammad Majid al-Sheikh here. Shahraki further told al-Sheikh that bitter event taking place in Iraq make Iranians unhappy due to close bonds and extensive historical commonalties between the two nations. He said arrogant powers do not let nations decide their own fates but that the duty of mass media is to awaken people. He added that fortunately, today good cooperation exists between the two countries. ˈIranˈs ties with Iraq are expanding and there is a bright prospect ahead of the two countries.ˈ He hoped that Iraq would overcome its problems in light of unity and solidarity of the Iraqi people. The IRNA chief went on to say that IRNA is ready for cooperation with Iraq official news agency either in terms of news exchange or establishment of a representative office. Al-Sheikh, for his part, said Iranian and Iraqi leaders are determined to expand bilateral relations. He said ˈCertain foreign countries, including some Arab states, do not wish to see freedom in Iraq and want the country to return to its past conditions but the Iraqi nation is aware and will not allow such a thing to happen.ˈ He said in many Arab states public votes have the final say and changes are expected to take place in certain other countries. The Iraqi diplomat then toured different sections of IRNA and took part in a press conference with IRNA deputies and chief editors./end