Romanian president receives Iraqi ambassador

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Romanian President Traian Basescu received Iraqi Ambassador Adel Murad on the occasion of the end of his mission in the country, according to an official statement. “The president conveyed the greetings of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki,” said the statement received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “The meeting tackled the latest political developments in the Iraqi arena as well as political efforts to form a government of national unity,” the statement added. “Iraq is keen to develop bilateral relations with Romania in various domains,” the ambassador said. For his part, the Romanian president underlined his country’s desire to contribute in stabilizing Iraq and in its reconstruction operations. Romania had sent 5200 soldiers to Iraq in August 2003 to support the Multinational forces’ operations in the country. Only 600 soldiers remain in the country after the withdrawal of most of these forces. Only two Romanian soldiers were killed and five were wounded in Iraq. SH (P)/SR 1