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21:12 GMT
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