Report: Iran Appoints Ambassador to Iraq

[ProSense]

Report: Iran Appoints Ambassador to Iraq

By TAREK AL-ISSAWI, Associated Press Writer
49 minutes ago

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran has appointed an ambassador to Iraq for the first time in more than 20 years, the official Iranian news agency reported.

The move indicates an improvement in official Iran-Iraq relations, which have been at the level of charge d'affaires, a lower rank of diplomatic officer, since ambassadors were withdrawn shortly before the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-88.

Hasan Kazemi Qomi, already Iran's top diplomat in Iraq, presented his new credentials to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in Baghdad on Tuesday night, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

"Upgrading the level of relations between the two countries will open a new page in the history of ties between the two countries," Talabani was quoted as telling Qomi.

Talabani also said Iraq wants Iran to help in reconstruction efforts, according to IRNA.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060510/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_iraq_1