Erdogan Stresses Need For Contact With Iran On Syria

Ankara, Feb 1, IRNA – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Ankara will continue contacts with Iran over Syria. Speaking to reporters, Erdogan said he had asked Turkish foreign minister and security officials to continue their contacts with their Iranian counterparts on the humanitarian situation in Syria. The Iranian officials have called for withdrawal of all terrorist groups from Syria and also a halt in financial support for them, he added. The Turkish prime minister stressed that the future of Syria should be determined only by the Syrian nation, adding that and any government for the country has to be chosen by the Syrians. He noted that the Iranian and Turkish foreign ministries and security organizations will maintain contact on Syria. Since the start of conflicts in Syria three years ago, Turkey, along with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, has supported the anti-government rebels in the country. The United Nations and Human Rights Watchdog have recently released reports accusing Turkey of providing arms support to al-Qaeda-linked terrorists. As conflicts in Syria escalates, the elements of the terrorist groups are approaching Turkish borders, deepening concerns over the spread of violence into Turkey./end