(IRNA) - Iran's Ambassador to Iraq Hassan Kazemi Qomi said here Tuesday that Tehran and Baghdad have signed 48 documents for expansion of bilateral cooperation, reports Trend.
Speaking to IRNA in an exclusive interview, Kazemi Qomi assessed as "positive" the recent visit by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani to Tehran.
"Iran and Iraq have inked documents to step up relations in the economic, political, cultural, scientific and defense fields," he said.
"In the economic field, the sides have signed agreements for cooperation in the fields of oil, electricity, transportation, roadbuilding and transit of goods" he added.
He said the two countries have had considerable cooperation in the oil and power generation sectors and expansion of networks to transfer electricity with respect to ongoing problems that Iraq is currently faced with after its occupation.
"Iran exports some 140MW electricity to Iraq via a pipeline from Iranian town of Sar-e Pol-e Zahab to Iraqi city of Baqouba." The ambassador noted that Talabani's recent visit to Iran took place to materialize the agreements, saying the Iraqi delegation which accompanied the president paved the way for implementation of the accords previously signed between Tehran and Baghdad in its meetings with Iranian officials.
He once again reiterated Iran's firm and all-out support for the broad-based Iraqi government.
He said the Iraqi government had plans including establishment of security, completion of a political process launched in the country, Iraq's reconstruction and providing services to the nation, adding implementation of the plans would result in expansion of Iraq's cooperation with neighboring states particularly with Iran.
"Talabani's visit to Tehran had very positive outcomes in the fields of bilateral cooperation, particularly on establishment of security and economic and regional cooperation," Kazemi Qomi stated.
He noted that different Iraqi politicians and officials also believed that the visit had very valuable results.
He praised several steps taken by the Iranian and Iraqi officials to implement bilateral agreements and said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran not only strives to improve bilateral cooperation but encourages regional states and Iraq's neighboring countries in particular to help settle its problems."
The envoy said Iran welcomes establishment of a regional conference to support the Iraqi government and settle the country's problems.