Turkish media ask for greater interactions, cooperation, with Iran

Ankara, Apr 4, IRNA – Reporters of Turkeyˈs printed and audiovisual media in a meeting with new Iranian Ambassador to Ankara, Ali-Reza Bigdeli, here Wednesday asked for greater interactions and cooperation with their Iranian colleagues. The new envoy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Turkey had arranged for a meeting with a large number of Turkish media representatives at the IRI Embassy building, in order to get better acquainted with them. During the meeting which was unlike such meetings ordinarily not a question-answer type, most of the reporters present at the meeting were individually introduced to the ambassador and talked with him face-to-face, showing their sensitivities about the regional developments and Iranˈs role in problem solving. In addition to requests of grater interactions with the Iranian media and bilateral cooperation, the Turkish media reporters asked for preparations for exclusive interviews and facilities for visiting Iran and preparing news reports and documentaries about Iran. Turkish media reporters after introducing themselves also get involved in various discussions, including the new Iranian ambassadorˈs plans for improving bilateral realtions in the course of his tenure in Turkey, ways for the Turkish mediaˈs interactions with the Iranian embassy, regional developments, particularly Syria and the PKK. Based on the arranged programs, it was agreed that the Iranian ambassadorˈs first news briefing with the Turkish media would be held at the Turkish state news agency, the Anatolia, and that the Islamist daily, Milli Gazete, would be the first Turkish daily to interview Ambassador Bigdeli. The Iranian ambassador to Turkey at the beginning of the meeting referred to the role of the media in illumination of the public opinion in various societies, announcing his readiness for expansion of relations with the Turkish media. He said that during his tenure he would try to promote learning in various sections of the Iranian Embassy, adding that the media were one of the best means for learning. Ali-Reza Bigdeli, who has recently replaced Bahman Hosseinpoor as the IRI Ambassador to Turkey, delivered a copy of his credentials to Turkeyˈs President Abdollah Gul last week, after which he officially started his services as the Iranian ambassador. The new Iranian ambassador to Ankara has a long record of serving at the diplomatic apparatus of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His former responsibilities include the second man at the Iranian Embassy in Moscow, charge de Affaires of the Iranian Embassy in Kazakhstan, the head of the Second Office for Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, IRI Ambassador to Azarbaijan Republic, Deputy Head of Foreign Ministryˈs Documents and Research Services Center, Deputy Secretary General and Head of Afghanistan Headquarters of the IRI Foreign Ministry in Nicosia (Cyprus) and Research Deputy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office for Political and International Studies. Bigdeli is a graduate of Azerbaijan Republicˈs Eco Energy University (EEU). He is fluent in Turkish, Russian, and English languages, naturally next to his native Persian language. On July 8, 1937 a Treaty of Non-aggression was signed between Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. This treaty would become known as the Treaty of Saaˈdabad. The purpose of this agreement was to ensure security and peace in the Middle East. In August 1955 CENTO (Central Treaty Organization), a mutual security-pact between Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan and Britain was established. In July 1964 the RCD (Regional Cooperation for Development), aimed at joint economic projects between Turkey, Iran and Pakistan was established. A period of coldness passed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution of Iran which caused major changes in Iran and the Middle Eastern status quo. Today Iran and Turkey cooperate in a wide variety of fields that range from fighting terrorism, drug trafficking, and promoting stability in Iraq and Central Asia. Iranian peaceful nuclear program Iranian ambassador visited the USAK Director in Ankara. In May 2010, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan made an unscheduled trip to Tehran in coordination with the former Brazilian president Lula da Silva to make an agreement to outsource Iranian uranium enrichment to his country to avoid further sanctions on Iran. In supporting Iran after the agreement Erdogan turned the question back on the international community. ˈIn fact, there is no nuclear weapon in Iran now, but Israel, which is also located in our region, possesses nuclear arms. Turkey is the same distance from both of them. What has the international community said against Israel so far? Is this the superiority of law or the law of the superiors?ˈ Courtesy: Wikipedia for the backgound on the two countriesˈ relations