Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazef on Monday expressed Egypt's willingness to support Iraq to achieve peace and stability in the war-torn country.

Nazef made the expression at a joint press conference with visiting Iraqi Vice-President Tareq al-Hashimi on Monday, saying that security and stability were key to development in Iraq.

Earlier in statements upon arrival on Monday, Hashimi stressed Iraq's necessity of exchanging viewpoints with Egypt over the situation in Iraq, especially that the Iraqi state of affairs.

Meanwhile, Nazef noted that Egypt was always ready to extend all assistance possible to the Iraqi people to help restore stability and security to the Arab country.

Later after his talks with Arab League (AL) Secretary General Amr Moussa, Hashimi made it clear that there is a long way ahead to achieve a strong Iraqi reconciliation while more efforts are needed to reconcile with individuals as minority Sunni groups are battling against the Shiite government.

For his part, Moussa noted that Iraq's future was a concern for all Arab countries, calling on the Iranians and Americans to continue their dialogue about stabilizing Iraq, which is an active attempt to calm down the issues and solve the problems away from military conflict.

Hashimi, who is making his first visit to Cairo since he assumed office last year, is scheduled to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during his current trip to seek help from the Arab region's most populous country to stabilize Iraq.

(Xinhua News Agency June 5, 2007)