Mottaki holds talks with intl. officials in Sharm el-Sheikh

Mottaki was accompanied by a high-raking diplomatic delegation to attend the conference which started on Thursday and ended on Friday.

On his meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, the two sides discussed the latest developments in Iraq as well as regional and international developments.

Pointing to Iran’s constructive role in Iraq, Mottaki told Ban that “Iran holds a logical stance toward Iraqi government and nation based on a sense of responsibility and its duty as a neighbor."

Ban assessed Iran's role in regional developments as “wise and constructive” and noted the need to stabilize Iraq and Lebanon.

Mottaki also met with British Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett.

The two ministers discussed issues between Tehran and London.

With a look at bilateral developments, the foreign ministers stressed that the two sides should strengthen the foundations for constructive ties.

Talks with Iraqi PM

Iran’s top diplomat also held a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on the sidelines of the conference.

Maliki appreciated Iran’s participation at the meeting and called for further cooperation between neighboring countries to disappoint the “ill-wishers”.

In a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari on Thursday, Mottaki said the international conference on Iraq in the first place should attract support of the countries to restore security in Iraq.

He told Zebari, "Your visit to Tehran and our view that the goals of this conference should be clear, followed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maleki's contact with President Mahmud Ahmadinejad on the issue, led Iran to deciding to attend the conference."

Mottaki said that Iran participated in the conference to see that in the final statement the participants would declare their support for the will of Iraqi nation.

"Some parties presume that by disrupting the conditions they can pursue their own goals, which are against the will of Iraqi nation. However, they should realize the actual direction of the will of Iraqi nation," he added.

Zebari also appreciated Iran's wise decision to attend the conference.

The Iraqi foreign minister said that Iran's presence at the conference was highly significant for Iraq. He added that Iran’s decision added to the weight of the conference.

He noted that the ongoing chaos and insecurity in Iraq will affect the neighboring countries.

Mottaki also met with the Organization of the Islamic Conference’s (OIC) Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheit.

They exchanged views on Iraq developments, Sharm el-Sheikh conference, and its declaration.

The Egyptian foreign minister stressed that negotiation is the best solution to Iran's nuclear case.

Aboul Gheit called for removing the ambiguities of the nuclear issue.

In a meeting the Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa the Iranian chief diplomat said negotiations with Arab League has always been successful and constructive and that the current conditions are most appropriate for founding deep ties with Arab countries.

Amr Mousa stated that Iran’s role in the region is “constructive and reasonable”.

He added that it is necessary for the Arab league to hold talks with Iran on various issues and expressed hope for expansion of Iran-Arab ties.

Representatives from 48 countries and several international bodies attended the conference dubbed the International Compact on Iraq.

PA/MS

END

MNA