WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright, two former U.S. secretaries of state, on Wednesday urged President George W. Bush to hold talks with Iraq's neighbors, including Iran and Syria.

    Kissinger, while testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the United States should always be ready to negotiate with those governments with which it disagrees, although Washington will not accept an Iran that seeks regional dominance.

    For her part, Albright said Iran and Syria should participate along with other nations in talks designed to keep Iraq from slipping into chaos.

    "One gains by communicating with countries with which one disagrees," she said.

    Kissinger and Albright echoed the Iraq Study Group report released late last year by a committee of the U.S. Congress, which suggested the Bush administration engage in talks with Iran and Syria.

    However, the Bush administration has rejected the idea, instead repeatedly accusing Iran and Syria of supporting terrorists in Iraq.

    Iran and Syria have denied the charges.