President Hassan Rouhani and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Masum issued a joint statement on Thursday to express mutual respect and commitment to bilateral agreements and to advocate expansion of ties in the fields of mutual interest, IRNA reported.
The two presidents called for effective efforts to help accelerate the implementation of agreements "without (allowing) any foreign intervention in bilateral relations," the statement read.
According to the statement, the two top-level officials urged enhanced economic cooperation and exchange of views in this regard as well as the preparation of the ground for more active involvement of the public and private sectors of the two sides to help boost bilateral transactions.
Rouhani and Masum committed themselves to making joint efforts to deal with the current inefficiencies and obstacles in the way of promoting mutual trade. The statement wrote the two presidents sought increased collaboration in the field of environment, including protection of lagoons and biodiversity, reduction of dust storms, and participation in national and international forums organized to explore ways of protecting the environment. After examining the latest regional developments and security issues, the two sides reached the conclusion that they hold similar views about regional crises. They emphasized the necessity to continue bilateral and multilateral consultations to help solve the security challenges facing the Middle East and improve regional cooperation.
Describing terrorism and extremism as the "most important challenges faced by the region and the world," the two presidents denounced the use of terrorism as a tool to achieve political objectives and called for responsive collaboration by all regional and international parties to combat terrorism in any shape and form. They also underlined the importance of regional states' engagement in the process of finding peaceful political solutions to regional conflicts, rather than taking military action to interfere in the internal affairs of regional nations. Voicing concern over the ongoing developments in Yemen, the senior officials stressed that it is essential that a lasting ceasefire be secured and an immediate end be put to the military campaign against the war-ravaged Arab country. They also called for the blockade on Yemen to be lifted so that humanitarian aid can be delivered to the Yemeni nation.
Masum travelled to Tehran last Tuesday for a three-day visit to meet high-ranking Iranian officials.
