(IRNA) - Iran's Ambassador to Baghdad Hassan Kazemi Qomi here Thursday hoped that the upcoming visit of Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to Iraq will open a new chapter in bilateral relations.
On the threshold of Mottaki's visit to Iraq, Kazemi Qomi told IRNA that the trip aims to increase coordination between the two countries and expand multifaceted ties, reports Trend.
"Given the planned schedule of the upcoming visit, Mottaki's visit is expected to pave the way for materializing the set goals.
Turning to the history of Iran-Iraq diplomatic ties, he said that since the victory of the Islamic Revolution up to the downfall of Iraq's Baathist regime under the leadership of Saddam Hussein mutual relations turned sour due to the hostile attitude of the Baathist regime.
"This was followed by the eight-year war imposed on Iran and the post-war conditions left little chance for establishment of any relations.
"After Saddam Hussein's downfall and the new political situation in the country Iran changed its strategy for renew ties and attempt to help the new Iraqi government," he added.
The Iranian ambassador said that a secure, stable and more independent Iraq without the presence of foreign troops will be in the interest of Iran and other regional countries.
He hoped that mutual relations will serve as a model for the regional and extraregional countries, which will encourage others to raise the level of their ties with the country's new government.