BAGHDAD, Dec 15 (KUNA) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani received on Saturday here an Iranian delegation which will begin negotiations soon in the fourth trilateral talks between the United States, Iran and Iraq on the latter's national security.
An Iraqi government statement said the two sides held preliminary talks regarding the upcoming trilateral talks, adding that President Talabani stressed the importance of boosting efforts on all sides to help reach an end to Iraq's problems.
The delegation which is headed by Iran's Higher Council of national security Secretary General Mohammad Ja'aferi, included Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Hassan Kazemi Qomi and other Iranian officials.
Earlier today, Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said that the trilateral talks have been postponed until after Eid-e Qorban (Feast of Sacrifice) which commemorates the end of the annual Haj ceremony.
Iran's delegation arrived in Baghdad on Friday and began preliminary discussions with Iraqi officials about the fourth round of trilateral talks.
Last night, Qomi said Iranian officials "hope the new round of talks will help end the occupation of Iraq, so full sovereignty can be restored to the country."(end) ahh.mb KUNA 160012 Dec 07NNNN