Iraq Press Roundup

The Kurdish Al Ahali newspaper Friday carried an editorial with the title "Between the official delegations to Iran and the statements from the government's spokesman," by Heval Zakhori.

The editorial said Iran and Iraq have been neighbors for thousands of years and though relations between the two have during times been tense, Iran will always be a neighbor. The editorial said Iraqi authorities must have positive relations with Iran, taking into account the people of both Iran and Iraq.

"In spite of the different visions by many who consider Iran as a strategic enemy to Iraq, the neighboring countries relations is an unchangeable fact," it said.

There must be figures of reform from both sides to regulate the relationship between the two countries to be built on the concept of mutual respect for sovereignty and attempts to improve the economic and social relationship, it said.

It added that countries shouldn't try to solve past problems with explosions and destruction, but try to distribute the policy of tolerance and forgiveness.

The liberal newspaper said Tehran is being accused of supporting armed groups in Iraq by the U.S. and Iraqi sides.

It accused the Iraqi government of being two-faced because after government officials accuse Iran of involvement with supporting armed groups, other members of the government come out and deny the accusations. This, the paper said, erases the credibility of the Iraqi government.

"The people of Iraq demand the truth," it said.

It said that when Iraqi government officials make statements, they blame and accuse "neighboring countries" of negatively affecting the security situation without mentioning the names of these countries.

"What are the names of the neighboring countries that the Iraqi government is blaming for interfering in interior matters? And why don't Iraqi officials name such countries?" it said.

It concluded that during the clashes in Basra, the Iraqi government announced that a "neighboring" country has been supporting the militias in the city yet no names were given.

"The people of Iraq rely on the fact that Iran is the neighboring country that would present the hand of support to its wounded neighbor, and look forward to a shared bright future," Al Ahali said.