Senior Iranian MP, Turkish president discuss Syria

TEHRAN, Nov. 19 (MNA) – Iranian MP Alaeddin Boroujerdi, who is the chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, held a meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Ankara on Thursday. During the meeting, Gul thanked the Islamic Republic for providing humanitarian assistance to the people affected by the recent earthquake in Turkey. A massive 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit parts of southeast Turkey, including the city of Van and the town of Ercis on October 23, killing hundreds of people and reducing many buildings to rubble. “The immediate measure by the Islamic Republic of Iran to help quake-affected people of Turkey indicated that the bonds between the two nations and the two governments of Iran and Turkey are very deep and close, and I sincerely thank the immediate and timely measures by the Iranian government and nation,” Gul said, according to a translation of his remarks. On the relations between Tehran and Ankara, he said, “Increased contact between the representatives of the parliaments of the two countries will help enhance mutual understanding and cooperation.” Elsewhere in his remarks, the Turkish president spoke about the situation in Syria and said, “We are opposed to any attack on Syria. And incidents in Iraq and Libya should not be repeated in this country.” Gul also said, “Enemies are making attempts to wage a religious war, and regional countries should not fall into this trap.” Reports on Syria not based on realities Boroujerdi also commented on the developments unfolding in Syria and criticized the Arab League’s decision to suspend Syria’s membership. The Arab League suspended Syria at a meeting in Cairo on November 12. Of the Arab League’s 22 members, 18 voted to suspend Syria, with Iraq abstaining and Yemen and Lebanon opposing the plan. Syria itself was not allowed to vote, according to the Bloomberg news agency. Boroujerdi said the reports published by certain media outlets affiliated with the West about the situation in Syria “are a far cry from the realities on the ground in the country.” He added, “The Arab League, which suspended Syria’s membership, in fact, carried out the U.S. order, and the decision will not help resolve the most immediate problems.” “The fact that the Arab League did not react to the developments in Yemen and Bahrain illustrates the fact that the Arab League adopted a stance against Syria under the influence of the U.S.,” the Iranian MP stated. He suggested that “The two countries of Iran and Turkey should increase consultations and cooperation to help manage the crisis.” Boroujerdi also conveyed the warm greetings of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the Turkish president.