Iraq keen to develop relations with Arab countries – PM

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi premier Nouri al-Maliki on Saturday stressed that Iraq is keen to develop relations with all Arab countries, promising to accept an official invitation extended by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain to visit the Gulf country, according to a release issued by the premier’s office. Maliki made the statements after receiving the Bahraini foreign affairs minister, Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, on Saturday. “Iraq wants to start new vistas of relations with Arab countries in accordance with the Iraqi constitution that prevents intervention in other countries’ internal affairs and wants to correct Iraq’s relations with countries of the region by removing the effects of the former regime’s policies,” read the release as received by IraqiNews.com. “During the meeting, the two sides discussed the issue of developing mutual relations in all fields,” it added. MH (P)/AmR 1