The first outcomes of Iranian president’s visit to Iraq was al-Maliki’s reiteration that Iraq will not let terrorist groups like al-Qaeda, the Mujahedin Khalq
‘Terrorists will not use Iraq soil’
Presstv, March 3, 2008
Iraqi ambassador: MKO presence not permanent
IRNA, February 27, 2008
Iraqi Ambassador to Tehran Mohammad Majeed Al-Sheikh said here on Tuesday that the presence of members of the terrorist Mujahideen Khalq Organization ”MKO” in Iraq is not permanent. "The MKO members have been staying in Iraq before the Saddam Hussein regime was toppled," he said, adding the necessary measures have been taken to expel them. Al-Sheikh noted that the Iraqi government is not satisfied with their presence and said they would stay in Iraq until they find another country to accept them. The envoy assured that the Iraqi government does not permit any action against the Islamic Republic. He put the volume of Tehran-Baghdad trade at dlrs 2.4 billion, calling for expansion of mutual cooperation in all fields. Referring to the exporting electricity to Iraq, he underlined that the Islamic Republic has launched some electricity projects in the cities of Shalamcheh and Basra which are in final stages. He also termed the Tehran-Baghdad cultural and medical cooperation as proper, adding the bilateral cooperation in this regard is very good and effective. With the aim of boosting the cultural and medical cooperation, al-Sheikh stated that a medical conference is going to held in Naseriyeh in near future. He also called for holding talks between Iran and US, adding the Iraq issue is a good opportunity for them to set aside their differences. "We want to prove to the world that negotiations is the only solution to any problem," he observed. The envoy also voiced his country readiness to release some of the Iranian prisoners, adding currently a few Iranian prisoners are behind bars in Badreh Prison and negotiations are underway to release them. Referring to boosting bilateral cultural cooperation, the ambassador concluded that currently the issuance of visas for Iranian pilgrims have increased.
Iraq Not a Place to Raid Neighbors
A member of Iraqi parliament criticizes the Turkish incursion against PKK rebels in northern Iraq, stressing that Iraq’s territories should not be used to attack neighboring countries. "Before attacking northern Iraq, Turkey was supposed to attempt resolving the crisis by exercising the bilateral cooperation and diplomatic measures to prevent PKK from threatening Turkey’s security, a crucial measure that has regrettably not adopted, " said Abdul Aziz Al- Enzi, an Iraqi MP on Sunday evening to Alalam TV. He said that Iran has also expressed concerns over ‘Mujahedin Khalgh’ an Iranian opposition terrorist group (MKO) to employ Iraq’s territories to target some ends in Iran. "Iraqi government should adopt swift measures to resolve this crisis," he said. Al- Enzi stressed that any delay in resolving the MKO terrorists and PKK rebels’ crisis would have negative affect on Iraq- Turkey and Iraq- Iran ties. "Iraq’s Foreign Ministry should try to find a way out of this crisis to avoid such accidents with the adjacent countries, "he added. Al- Enzi rejected any rumors, saying, "Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has demanded Turkish government to suppress the PKK in northern Iraq," stressing that the president strongly respects Iraq’s sovereignty. He pointed out that the US has double standard policy towards Iraqi armed insurgents and US troops protect some armed militants such as the PKK rebels and MKO terrorists.
Alalam, February 25, 2008
"Iraqi government is not able to resolve the crisis of the armed groups, because it has not power to control the whole country, "he concluded.
Mojahedin.ws, March 3, 2008
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has said that Baghdad would not let terrorists use its soil to attack neighboring countries. Democratic Iraq has a constitution and will not let terrorist groups including al-Qaeda, the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) or the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) insurgents turn Iraq into a base against friendly countries in the region, al-Maliki told IRNA Sunday. He added that Iraq is the ‘safety valve’ of the region and gave assurances that Baghdad would destroy terrorist group bases in the country to restore regional stability and security. The premier pointed to the current historic visit by the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Iraq and invited Iran to carry out projects for the reconstruction of Iraq.