Iran-Turkey Close Ranks On Resolving Regional Issues: Spokesman

Ankara, Dec 24, IRNA – Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Sunday that Iran and Turkey close ranks to help resolve regional issues. Speaking to reporters upon his arrival to Ankara airport, he said there are minor differences on regional developments such as the Syrian crisis and the two sides close ranks to help resolve them. Referring to his press conference with Turkish reporters in Istanbul, he said most of the questions were about Syrian developments and "I tried to give proper response accordingly." On latest action taken by the Canadian government which crossed out the name of the MKO from the terrorists list and included Qods unit of IRGC, he said the behavior of western governments in dealing with human rights is neither justifiable nor defendable. The US under pretext to defend the legitimate rights of nations interferes in the country's domestic affairs, he said. The US has imprisoned a large number of people irrespective the principles of human rights at Guantanamo Bay prison, he said adding that the prison still operatng despite Obama's election campaign promise to shut down the notorious detention camp. US has a black record in supporting terrorist groups, he said adding that MKO gunned down over 16,000 people in Iran and also committed numerous crimes and atrocities in Iraq but their name is now removed from terrorists list. Since the IRGC does not comply with US policies in the region, they have imposed sanction on them, he said adding that performance of the US government indicates that their yardstick for human rights issue is a challenge. US footsteps could be traced in all terrorist moves, he underlined. On his current visit to Turkey, he said during the visit he is to confer with the country's political figures as well as media persons. Mehmanparast was welcomed by Iran's Ambassador to Ankara Bahman Hosseinipour at Ankara international airport./end