Iran Hails Turkish Govt's Peace Initiative With Ethnic Groups

Tehran, Jan 17, IRNA – Iran supports Turkish government's peace initiative with ethinic groups, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Wednesday in reference to peace talks the Turkish government initiated with leaders of the Kurdish population. Asked about the mischievous act of certain Turkish circles and media in the case of murder of three PKK activists in Paris, France, Mehmanparast said, "In our opinion, the ultra-regional countries are the most important factor and instigator of instability in the region." He said certain segments of Turkish press blame the government for murder of the PKK members in France, aiming to harm peace talks between government and leaders of the Kurdish population. The spokesman said that the media close to Zionists are for years in effort to harm relations of Iranian and Turkish nations, but, they have not been able to do so due to deep-rooted bonds between the two nations and governments. He said Iran-Turkey relations have always been good neighborly and on mutual respect. He highlighted Iranian brotherly attitude toward the Turkish nation and said that such an attitude has prompted Iran to consider stability, territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Turkey as its own./end