(IRNA) - Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moualem here Monday stressed the need for restoration of stability, security and calm in Iraq.
Addressing a joint press conference, the two ministers also underlined the importance of maintaining Iraq's territorial integrity and national unity.
Iran and Syria have agreed to propose Iraqi government and Iraq neighbors the idea of holding meeting of foreign ministers of Iraq's neighbors in Baghdad, said Mottaki in the press conference, reports Trend.
He said he had also in talks with al-Moualem discussed a host of issues on Lebanon and Palestine.
On the US President George W. Bush's strategy in Iraq, Mottaki said the strategy would only escalate tension.
He said that growing psychological war and differences among regional states are part and parcel of the US new strategy, underlining that the strategy is doomed to failure given the regional states' vigilance.
Asked on the US attack on Iran's consulate in Erbil in defiance of the international regulations, Mottaki said Iran's Foreign Ministry is seriously following up the release of consular staff captured in the incident.
For his part, Al-Moualem then commented on Bush's new strategy, saying it is wrong.
He said, "The US and regional states' interests lie in correcting the mistake."
He rejected the idea that there are racial and sectarian differences and clashes in Iraq and called for holding a comprehensive meeting to forge national reconciliation there.
He stressed formation of national Iraqi army and foreign troop withdrawal from there.
Asked about Syria-Israel talks, al-Moualem said, "That's totally false; Syria will not talk with anybody in darkness."