Iraq keens on developing ties with Azerbaijan

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Wednesday said that Iraq is keen on developing relations with Azerbaijan on diplomatic, trade and investment levels, according to a statement released from his office. “Prime minister received at his office in Baghdad advisor of the Azerbaijani president, Ali Afsen, and Imam of Azerbaijan, Allah Shukr Pasha Zada, with whom he asserted Iraq’s keenness to develop ties with Azerbaijan on diplomatic, trade and investment levels,” said the statement received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “Projects u spoke about in Karbala should be implemented, mainly projects concerning the establishment of hotels and resorts and we will ask the local government in Karbala to cooperate with u on this regard,” the premier said. He expressed hope over implementing projects in Najaf, Samarra and other holy Shiite cities. “We encourage Azerbaijani students who seeks religious studies in Najaf and will help them,” he continued. For their part, the Azerbaijani delegation valued efforts made by the Iraqi government, mainly n reconstruction operations, asserting their readiness to support Iraq. SH (P) 1