Iran-Turkey Discuss Bilateral Ties

Ankara, Aug 4, IRNA – Iran’s Ambassador to Turkey Bahman Hosseinpour conferred with the new secretary of Turkey’s National Security Council, Muammer Turker, here on Thursday. Hosseinpour and Turker discussed ways to enhance bilateral ties, talks between Iran and Group 5+1 (five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany), and Syria’s political developments. Referring to the developing bilateral ties in all areas over previous years, Hosseinpour underlined the determination of Iranian and Turkish officials for expansion of mutual cooperation. He noted that both Iran and Turkey complement each other in the region. Referring to the ongoing peace and security which have been dominant in border regions of both countries over past 400 years, Hosseinpour noted that the cultural, religious and historical commonalities of both countries with their common interests in the region are valuable assets for further consolidation of bilateral ties. He recalled holding expert meetings between Iran and Group 5+1, as well as meetings held between deputies of Secretary of Iran’s National Security Council Saeed Jalili and EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton in the Turkish port city of Istanbul while thanking the Turkish government for hosting the meetings. Turkey’s National Security Chief Muammer Turker for his part mentioned good cooperation between Iran and Turkey in security fields and drug trafficking and smuggle of goods. Turker emphasized on the need for expansion of trade transactions and border cooperation between the two countries with the purpose of enhancing the country’s welfare status and overcoming social problems in these regions./end