Iran, Turkey resolved to extend bilateral ties

TEHRAN, Apr. 17 (MNA) – Iran’s Hassan Rouhani has told a joint press conference with Turkish president Iran and Turkey would fight effectively with Islamophobia and provide a true image of Islam to world. President Rouhani’s joint press conference with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday hold after both presidents discussed bilateral relations along with a host of other issues, not least the agenda of the OIC summit in Istanbul which, as Rouhani believed, addressed important issues of the world of Islam. Rouhani extended his gratitude for Turkey’s and Mr. Erdoğan’s warm welcome and lavish reception for Iranian delegation. He then turned to OIC agenda, which focused upon Islamic unity in region mired in crisis, violence and internecine sectarian strife; Mr. Rouhani also added Palestinian question to this long inventory of issues which the summit was ambitious enough to address; “Palestinian issue is the first and foremost issue of the world of Islam to which every Muslim country and state should contribute; after this grave issue, fighting with extremism and terrorism is second priority; with Mr. Erdoğan, we emphasized also on Islamic unity and proximity of Islamic sects, which seek to provide the world an image of Islam devoid of sectarian prejudices and discrimination,” Rouhani told the press conference. “I hope Turkey’s presidency of the OIC provides greatly to implementation of such lofty objectives; today, the session of the 3rd High Council of Strategic Cooperation also met, where Mr. Erdoğan’s and my emphasis had been on improving ties in all possible fields, including more robust banking cooperation, with Turkey receiving necessary permits for its banks to open branches in Iran, which will positively contribute to better bilateral trade,” Mr. Rouhani said. “Iran’s and Turkey’s stock exchange would also contribute to our economies by working together. We also discussed bringing facilities and eliminating unnecessary paperwork which encumbers transportation in land of the trucks transporting goods, and relevant ministers will work to advance the necessary action,” Rouhani emphasized. “On energy, we ensured Turkey that Iran will provide the country with its needs in oil and gas and other petrochemical products; on tourism, we agreed that it should be a central contributing field to economy of both countries, with Turkey providing Iran’s young tourism industry its valuable experiences on tourism.” Rouhani then turned to regional issues of immediate importance; “the region now has been entangled in huge problems: Yemenis are slaughtered daily; Syria has yet not come to a solution which all anticipated; in Iraq, the situation is even worse; in eastern part, Pakistan and Afghanistan grapple with efforts to fight extremism and ISIL. All this invites our grave attention,” Rouhani provided a whole image of the region to the press. “We agreed that Iran and Turkey would not welcome disintegration of any sovereign nation, and emphasized upon stability; terrorism should receive serious action, and that any nation has a right to decide upon its future, and no foreign power should decide on behalf of them.” Rouhani’s last word was about joint efforts to fight Islamophobia which he believed was a plot by the Zionist regime; “both countries could provide a true and fair image of Islam and to obliterate dark and evil images advertised by the Islamophobiac circles,” he concluded.