We will never forget the Iranian government and people's help to Iraq, and we hope our relations improve in all areas,

Rather, it is through conciliation and compromise that we are building a fair Iraq, a just state for all its peoples.

We need to ignore some petty or nonessential or marginal issues in order to achieve national unity for Iraq, including the unity of the opposition.

As president of Iraq, I shall strive to represent the diversity of a country that has too often in the past denied difference.

Now, the time has come for the rest of the world to recognize that a federal, democratic Iraq that can defend itself against terrorism is a goal worthy of broad international support.

I thank Turkish officials for their decision not to send troops to Iraq. Turkey is a friendly country, and I want a new page to be opened between us.