TEHRAN, Jan 12 (AFP) - Iraq is counting on Iran to neutralize the effects of the sanctions imposed on Iraq.
"Joint efforts by Iraq and Iran, especially in their trade relations involving the private sector," should "neutralize the U.S. desire to maintain sanctions," said Abdel Ghaffar Yunes, Iraq chairman of chamber of commerce.
He called on Iran to take a greater place in the Iraqi market, and thanked Iran for its help over food and health care.
His Iranian counterpart, Ali Naqi-Khamushi called for a decrease in international pressure on Iraq, and welcomed the reopening of borders between the two countries.
Yunes and an Iraqi business delegation are scheduled to meet the Iranian trade and industry ministers during their visit to Iran.
The Iraqi delegation will focus on ways of implementing trade and tourism accords signed between the two countries last year.
One agreement deals with bilateral cooperation in the food, health, industry and telecommunications sectors, while the other covers the transit of pilgrims visiting Shiite Muslim holy sites.
Iraq, which fought a bloody war against Iran from 1980-1988, first authorized Iranian pilgrims back into its country in late 1997, although the first large-scale pilgrimages took place in mid-1998.
Iraq has been under international sanctions imposed by the United Nations since it invaded Kuwait in 1990.
