BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq – Iraqi President Jalal Talabani arrived in Tehran on Saturday for an official visit upon an invitation from his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to attend the 2nd international festival for states celebrating Nawruz Day.

“President Talabani was received in Tehran by President Ahmedinejad in the presence of a number of Iranian ministers and officials,” according to an Iraqi presidential statement received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

The statement pointed out that the meeting, attended by former Iraqi Kurdistan Region Premier Nejervan Barzani and the Chairman of the Iraqi Presidential Cabinet, Nusseir al-Aani, discussed the current bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries and the need to develop them to the level that would serve the common interests of both sides.

“The visit, along with participation in Nawruz festival, also aims at boosting bilateral relations between our two countries, linked in religious, cultural, historic, social and natural relations,” the statement said.

ST / SKH / AmR