ERBIL, Iraq, Jan. 5 Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said Saturday his country wants further negotiations with Iran regarding border demarcation issues.
Appearing as part of a news conference with Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani, Talabani said the two Middle Eastern nations must discuss the details outlined in the 1975 Algerian accord, KUNA reported.
Currently, both countries are discussing issues related to border demarcation that were not outlined in the historical accord, which focuses on travel at a regional waterway.
The accord, which targeted the point where the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers meet, was annulled in 1980 by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
That decision led to an eight-year war between Iraq and Iran, but currently there is an Iraqi delegation in Iran attempting to discuss the controversial issues with top Iranian officials, the Kuwait News Agency said.
Talabani said Saturday that U.S. officials are not playing a role in those talks despite recent reports to the contrary, KUNA reported.
Copyright 2008 by UPI
