Gul : Iran-Turkey Ties Will Contribute To Regional Peace, Stability

Ankara, Oct 6, IRNA – President Abdullah Gul expressed his hope that Iran-Turkey relations will contribute to establishment of peace, tranquility, stability and well-being for regional nations. Gul made the comment in a meeting with Iran's 1st VP, Mohammad-Reza Rahimi in Ankara on Friday. The Turkish Presidential Office issued a communiqué here Friday following the Friday meeting between the Islamic Republic of Iran Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi and the Republic of Turkey President Abdullah Gul, quoting the latter official as saying that good Iran-Turkey relations are of significant importance in restoration of peace and stability in the region. Rahim, too, referring to his meeting with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Teyyip Erdogan said that expansion of Iran-Turkey relations in all fields is possible. Erdogan and Rahimi at the end of their Thursday talks in Ankara participated at a joint press conference in which they both stressed the two countries’ resolve will forever more expansion and strengthening of relations and cooperation. The Turkish prime minister also hosted a dinner ceremony Friday night in the honor of Iranian first vice president. Rahimi had his second round of talks with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Friday. In this visit and in the course of the official meetings held during it led by Rahimi and Erdogan, the latest developments in the course of Iran-Turkey economic and business relations were surveyed by the highest officials of the two countries and decisions were made aimed at fast removal of the entire obstacles and paving the path for greater bilateral economic ties. Rahimi’s last visit of Turkey was in October 2008, during which also the focus of attention of the two courtiers’ top officials was the two countries’ economic and trade relations. In his joint press conference with Rahimi Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Teyyip Erdogan said that Turkey does not want to engage in a war with Syria, but on the contrary Ankara only wants peace and security in the Middle East region. On October 3, a mortar shell was fired and hit the Turkish town of Akcakale in southern Turkey. “The incident of Akcakale town is not ordinary. This attack did not take place for the first time by Syria against Turkey. They (Syrian) forces have already launched seven attacks on Turkey so far. We request our Syrian friends to show more sensitivity in this regard,” Erdogan said. On October 4th, the Turkish artillery hit targets near Syria's Tel Abyad border town for a second day killing several Syrian soldiers according to activists and security sources. Damascus said it was investigating a mortar attack on the Turkish town of Akcakale in southern Turkey. Emphasizing that the Turkey is not warmonger and Ankara has closely seen the consequences of war in its neighboring countries of Iraq and Afghanistan, Erdogan said that “Turkey is calling for immediate halt to bloodsheds and brother killings in Syria. We do not want to be observer of massacre of our Syrian brothers.” Pointing to the fact that the Turkish government is fully capable of safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, he noted that he and the other Turkish officials have held separate talks with their Iranian counterparts on the issue of Syria and foreign ministers of both countries have been commissioned to achieve a feasible solution for the Syrian crisis in the shortest possible time. Referring to his talks with Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi on bilateral ties, Erdogan pointed out that it was an opportunity to have comprehensive talks with Vice President Rahimi and that there were also broad-based talks at ministerial level between two countries. Rahimi’s visit takes place upon an official invitation extended by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Teyyip Erdogan. The ministers of oil, transportation, justice, industries, mines and commerce are accompanying Rahimi during his visit to Turkey. Rahimi is to confer on Friday with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul on issues of mutual interests as well as regional and international developments. It is expected that economic cooperation would feature prominently in mutual talks./end