BAGHDAD – Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has said that Baghdad’s principled policy is to prevent any action from being taken against the Islamic Republic.  

Zebari made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Baghdad on Monday. 

He said his country is committed to protecting the security of Iran-Iraq border and preventing any action from being taken against the Islamic Republic, the Mehr News Agency reporter from Baghdad reported.

Zebari also thanked Tehran for its efforts to help improve peace and stability in Iraq and said that his country is keen to increase cooperation with Iran. 

Salehi stated that Iran and Iraq have many affinities and called for an acceleration of efforts to implement the agreements signed between the two countries. 

During a conference held after their meeting, Zebari said that the Iraqi government is determined to expel the members of the terrorist Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) who are based at Camp New Iraq, which was formerly known as Camp Ashraf, by 2012. 

Baghdad will stand firm on its stance toward the MKO, the Iraqi foreign minister stated. 

Salehi also held a meeting with Iraqi President Jalal Talebani on Monday, in which he said that Tehran and Baghdad should adopt a similar stance toward the developments taking place in the region. 

In addition, he submitted the written message of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Talebani. 

The Iraqi president said that security and stability in Iran and Iraq are interlinked, adding that Baghdad is making every effort to beef up the security of its border with Iran. 

In a separate meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Monday, Salehi said that the obstacles in the ways of expansion of ties should be removed. 

Al-Maliki also stated that efforts should be made to increase bilateral cooperation.