Iraq, Iran Presidents' meet in Tehran will facilitate peace: Russia

Moscow, Nov 23 (UNI) Russia today said the meeting between the Iraqi and Iranian Presidents in Tehran on November 25 will expedite Iraq's stabilization.

''Moscow certainly expects positive results from this important contact in Tehran,'' said Mikhail Kamynin official spokesman for Russian Foreign Ministry.

Mr Kamynin urged other countries in the region, particularly Iraq's neighbours, to join international efforts to restore peace in the country.

''Besides political assistance for Iraq to attain internal accord, Iran has every opportunity to help Iraq with such specific issues as jointly enhancing the security of its borders, preventing the smuggling of arms and restoring Iraq's infrastructure,'' RIA Novosti news agency quoted him as saying.

After the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the consequent overthrow of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, Iraq sank into sectarian violence, and ongoing international efforts to restore peace and stability in the West Asian country has so far proved futile, Mr Kamynin pointed out.

He said contacts between Iraq and Iran, which were embroiled in a war throughout the 1980s, had obviously developed since Hussein's regime was overthrown.

UNI XC MQA GC1744