Untitled - orsam

[Talabani] I discussed the subject with the Kuwaiti prime minister when I was visiting
New York. He said: If Iraq sends a letter to the Security Council affirming your recognition
of the Kuwaiti-Iraqi borders, we too approve removing Iraq from under Chapter VII. I
answered Dr Muhammad al-Sabah: You write the letter and I am ready to sign it right
now. We are ready to give such guarantees. What remains is setting the time only. We
have appointed an ambassador to Kuwait and they have an ambassador in Baghdad. We
expect to have excellent relations with Kuwait. Finally, regarding our relations with Saudi
Arabia, we consider Saudi Arabia an important Arab country and we are determined to
have very good relations with it. During my recent visit to Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah
Bin-Abdulaziz graciously awarded me a medal and promised me that after the
government is formed, Saudi Arabia will exert its best efforts to help Iraq solve its
problems with the neighboring countries and will urge the Arab countries to cooperate
with Iraq. After the government is formed, we hope to visit Saudi Arabia and ask them to
help Iraq.
[Asharq Al Awsat] What remains is the relationship with Iran.
[Talabani] Our relations with Iran are normal but they are not a follower-leader
relationship. This is a point that I wish everyone would understand. We are proud of our
independence and the Shias in Iraq are proud of their independence. They believe that
Al-Najaf is independent and that the Shias of Iraq are the original Shias of the world and
that they are purebred Arabs. They believe that the differences with the Shias of Iran are
due to the concept of Welayet-e faqih, which is an official principle in Iran. However, the
wise religious authority in holy Al-Najaf rejects the Welayet-e faqih principle. Moreover,
we consider Al-Najaf to be the Vatican of the Shias of the world and that the holy places
are in Iraq: Karbala, Samarra', Al-Kadhimiyah, the sacred tombs of Imam Ali, Al-Hussein,
Kadhim, Abbas, and the two Al-Askaris are all in Iraq. Therefore, we consider Iraq to be
the original homeland of the Shias. What remains is the political aspect. Do we want the
relationship with Iran to be like it was under Saddam Hussein? No; we reject the policy of
hostility with Iran. We want a policy of good neighborliness, but so far we do not have
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