By NNN-IRNA
Tehran : New Chairman of the Assembly of Experts and Head of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has said that success of Iran and Iraq in expanding mutual cooperation would lead to laying the cornerstone of an Islamic common market.
Rafsanjani made the remark in the opening ceremony of the first international conference on “Reconstruction of Iraq’s Economy, Assessment of Investment Opportunities, Exports of Goods and Commodities, Methods to Guarantee Turn-over of Investors’ Capitals” here Sunday.
Success of both sides’ private sectors in promoting economic cooperation would serve to win the trust of other Islamic states and prepare the grounds for establishment of a common market in line with broadening of economic cooperation.
The ethnic, religious, historical and cultural commonalties between Iran and Iraq have helped the two nations deepen their all-out cooperation and relations, he pointed out.
Addressing the private sector, he said the grounds for expansion of economic, technical and scientific cooperation is well-prepared between the two countries.
Expansion of economic cooperation requires prevalence of calm and security in the world and the region mainly between Iran and Iraq, he pointed out.
Pointing to Iran’s high capabilities and invaluable experiences in reconstruction of Iraq, he said the country would spare no efforts to this end.
The role of the governments in backing the activities of the private sector is of prime importance, he underlined.
Eight years of devastating war imposed by Iraq on Iran, ruined all suitable opportunities for investment and cooperation between the two countries, he said.
Following the fall of Iraq’s dictator Saddam Hussein, foreign troops who occupied the country and promoted insecurity in the country once again endangered cooperation between Iran and Iraq, he pointed out.
Saddam’s military expedition to Kuwait which prepared the grounds for interference of foreign forces is the root cause of Iraq’s backwardness, Rafsanjani said.