Iran, Iraq Hold ‘Positive’ Talks

Iran said it had held “positive” talks with neighboring Iraq to patch up the differences remaining from their 1980-88 war. “We have reached positive results to solve all pending issues,” Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said at the end of a two-day visit to Iraq. Kharrazi said the two nations had decided to resurrect a 1975 border and security pact that has been in limbo since Iraq invaded Iran in 1980. In the pact, Iraq ceded sovereignty over part of the Shatt al Arab waterway in exchange for an end to Iranian support of Kurdish rebels. The accord also provides for political and cultural exchanges.