Dana’e describes Allawi’s anti-Iran statements as “baseless”

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Ambassador of the Iranian Islamic Republic to Baghdad, Hassan Dana’e, has described the statement of Iraq‘s former Prime Minister and Chairman of al-Iraqiya, Iyad Allawi, against Iran as “baseless and outdated,” according to Iranian Pars News Agency on Monday. Pars quoted Ambassador Dana‘e as saying that “Allawi makes such statements, when he plans to carry out a tour of some states.” A number of Iraqi parties, especially Al-Iraqiya Alliance (91 seats in the new 325 seat parliament), are criticizing the Iranian positions towards Iraq, charging Iran to intervene in the Iraqi affairs and the efforts to form a government close to Iran. The Iranian Ambassador pointed out that “Allawi makes such statements in order to achieve media goals,” adding that “his statements won’t be taken into consideration, because they have become clear.” The Ambassador also said that Iraq‘s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki’s visit to Tehran, scheduled to begin on Monday, “would include talks, based on the fact that he is a candidate for the post of Iraqi prime minister.” Ambassador Dana‘e also talked about the current visit of Iraq‘s Interior Minister, Jawad Bolani, to Tehran. He noted that “it took place in response to an invitation by Bolani’s Iranian Counterpart, Mustapha Mohammed Najjar, made during the conference of the states neighboring Iraq, recently held in Bahrain. SKH/SR 1