Shanthini (4 Mar 2008)
"Politics make strange bedfellows- Iran & Iraq"

 

 

·       Ahmadinejad in Iraq on landmark visit

Atul Aneja

DUBAI: Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Baghdad on Sunday on a key visit that aims to lay the foundation for a special relationship between the neighbours.

Mr. Ahmadinejad’s host, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has described the visit as “historic.” Mr. Ahmadinejad is the first Iranian President to step on Iraqi soil since Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution. The two countries had fought a bitter eight year war in the eighties. While politics and security issues are high on the agenda, both countries, with majority Shia populations, are keen to anchor their energy and trade ties during the Iranian President’s stay.

Iran will start exporting 200 megawatts of electricity to Iraq next week, after a power link is established between the Iranian oil city of Abadan and Basra in Iraq, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

The ongoing talks for establishing a cross-border oil pipeline between Abadan and Basra is likely to gather momentum during Mr. Ahmadinejad’s stay.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/03/stories/2008030364910100.htm

 

 

·       Ahmadinejad pokes Uncle Sam in eye on Iraq visit

BAGHDAD (AFP) — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad poked his finger in the eye of Uncle Sam on his visit to Iraq on Sunday, displaying his country's regional influence in the face of 158,000 US soldiers in Iraq.

Top officials from the US-supported Iraqi government welcomed Ahmadinejad with hugs and kisses on a trip that opens a new phase between former enemies which fought a bitter war in the 1980s.

The televised lovefest was enough to give supporters of US President George W. Bush a seizure.

In 2002, Bush famously described Iraq -- then under Saddam Hussein -- Iran and North Korea as the axis of evil. One year later, US-led forces stormed Iraq and toppled Saddam.

Nearly five years, billions of dollars and 3,972 US dead later, American soldiers are holed up in fortified bases while the Islamic republic's leader is welcomed with flowers in Baghdad.

Ahmadinejad talked about regional stability upon arrival. He acknowledged Iraqis were going through "tough" times, but he was certain the Iraqi people would "overcome the situation".

"A united, powerful and developed Iraq is in the interests of all countries of the region," he said.

After a red-carpet welcome at President Jalal Talabani's Baghdad residence, Ahmadinejad travelled to the heart of the US presence in Iraq -- the Green Zone citadel -- for talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

The premier's office is located less than two kilometres (just a mile) from the US embassy.

US officials went to great lengths to distance themselves from the visit, emphasising that Ahmadinejad was an Iraqi guest, and that the US military was not involved in any way.

The rest  in  http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g1hTn0JKd_8RIlqbH0hPCgOU8jJw

 

·       Ahmadinejad to ink deals as Iraq praises Iran role

 

 by Salam Faraj

ATTENTION - ADDS visit to shrine ///

BAGHDAD, March 3, 2008 (AFP) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was set to a sign a raft of agreements in Baghdad on Monday after Iraqi leaders distanced themselves from Washington and hailed Tehran's "helpful" role.

The deals covered finance, electricity and transport, an aide to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani told AFP.

On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki praised the role played in his country by Iran, which US leaders have accused of training and arming Shiite militias.

"There was a high level of trust and I frankly say that the recent Iranian position towards Iraq is extremely helpful," Maliki said after his talks with Ahmadinejad in the heavily fortified Green Zone, which also houses the US embassy.

Ahmadinejad, whose visit is the first by an Iranian president to his country's western neighbour with which it fought a devastating war in the 1980s, hailed a "new page" in relations. Rest in   .......

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidANA311063111001

 

·       On Iraq trip, Ahmadinejad cites common history  http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq3mar03,1,217638.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

·       Ahmadinejad in Iraq / Baghdad's new strategic partner