Talabani starts official talks with Iranian president

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Friday started the first round of official talks with Iranian officials by meeting his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the presidential palace in Tehran. “Iranian and Iraqi officials started the first round of their talks in presence of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani on Friday (Feb. 27),” Iranian news agency said. “Iranian Foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki, energy minister Parviz Fattah, minister of housing and urban development Mohammad Saeedikia and minister of industries and mines Ali-Akbar Mehrabian represent the Iranian side at the meeting,” it added. National anthems of Iran and Iraq were played in the welcoming ceremony as the two presidents reviewed the guard of honor. Some Iraqi ministers, including ministers of commerce, power and housing, and government officials accompany Talabani in the three-day visit. Talabani arrived in Tehran late Thursday (Feb26) leading a high-profile delegation coming from Seoul, where he paid a four-day official visit. SH (P) 1