Iran-Iraq Ministers Sign Joint Statement On Mutual Co-op

Tehran, May 7, IRNA - Iranian Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Abdorreza Sheikholeslami signed on Sunday a joint statement on mutual cooperation with his visiting Iraqi counterpart Nasar al-Rabiei in Tehran. He discussed with al-Rabiei and his accompanying delegation issues of mutual interest and said Iran is ready to expand ties and cooperation with the friendly and brotherly country of Iraq. Sheikholeslami described the two countries' relations as historical with ancient cultural background. Iran considers Iraq's progress and development as its own and the prosperity of the Iraqi nation as that of the Iranian nation, he said. Al-Rabiei, for his part, said Iran-Iraq cooperation and ties which date back to old times, have dramatically grown since the collapse of the Saddam regime . He described bilateral cooperation as beneficial to both countries and the whole region and said consolidation of mutual relations can help stabilize the region./end