Iran FM Meets Turkey's President Gul

Istanbul, Nov 2, IRNA – IRI Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met and conferred with Turkeys President Abdullah Gul here Friday. The meeting behind closed doors between the two major regional countries top officials took place on the first day of Zarifs visit and after his address in Adela Saultan Palace where the Paguish Conference is being held on international disarmament. Iran and Turkey are two important and influential countries in the region, said the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said here on Friday. Zarif arrived in Istanbul on Friday morning for a meeting with President Abdullah Gul and delivering a speech in Paguash Conference before departing for Ankara. Zarif said that in Paguash Conference he was going to elaborate on the viewpoints of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the international issues and disarmament and my meeting with President Gul will be after that conference. Stressing the influence of Iran and Turkey in the region, he said after arrival at Istanbul International Airport that the two countries can through consultations and exchange of viewpoints contribute to regional crisis solving and restoration of peace and stability in the region. Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif arrived in Istanbul on Friday morning to discuss issues of mutual interest with Turkey’s officials. He met with President Abdullah Gul in Istanbul and delivered a speech in Paguash Conference and then departed for Ankara. In Ankara, Zarif is to meet with Prime Minister Recep Teyyip Erdogan and then Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutuglu. Bilateral ties, Syrian development and international, regional problems are among issues to be discussed between Zarif and Turkey’s officials. In Ankara the Iranian top diplomat is scheduled to attend a press conference and to participate in a dinner banquet by Turkey’s foreign minister. Zarif will depart Istanbul for Tehran on Saturday morning./end