Rafsanjani Pleased with Iran’s Economic, Security Conditions

Head of Iran’s Assembly of Experts Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said his country is today enjoying proper economic and security conditions, and voiced Tehran’s preparedness to share experience with other nations, Iraq in particular. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the first conference on reconstruction of Iraq’s Economy here on Sunday, Rafsanjani pointed to the common fate and abundant commonalities of the Iranian and Iraqi nations, and said Tehran is ready to transfer its good experiences in the field of reconstruction to the Iraqi nation for free.

Rafsanjani mentioned security as the main prerequisite for the development and expansion of the two countries’ ties, and said that following the Iraqi imposed war, Iranians started large-scale reconstruction of the country and are now in good conditions from the viewpoints of economy and security.

“And now we are ready to establish the highest levels of relations with our neighbors,” he said, adding, “and we have good experience in reconstruction that we can share with the Iraqi nation for free.”

Elsewhere, Rafsanjani, who is also the chairman of Iran’s Expediency Council, blasted occupiers of Iraq and the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hossein for the present insecurities and economic hardship of the Iraqi people, and stressed that the Iraqi nation deserves much better conditions.

He also called for the expansion of the two countries’ economic relations in such areas as trade, tourism and exchange of pilgrims, adding that reconstruction and development of the two states’ border provinces would provide “a world of opportunities” for both sides.

“We have common religion, beliefs and fate and I think that your newly started cooperation in economic affairs can set a good example for the whole region,” Rafsanjani told the Iranian and Iraqi businessmen and economic directors attending the meeting.

“If you gain success in this cooperation, we will repeat this experience with other regional countries and this would, in turn, increase and strengthen security in the region,” he added, assuring the participants that the Iranian and Iraqi governments would spare no effort in supporting them.

Rafsanjani also pointed out that if economic cooperation between the Iranian and Iraqi private sectors shows success, other regional countries would be attracted to such cooperation which, he said, would eventually lead to the establishment of an Islamic common market.