Iranian ambassador: Turkish-Iranian relations in unique level

ANKARA (A.A) - 06.05.2011 - Iranian Ambassador to Turkey Bahman Hosseinpour has said that the relations between Turkey and Iran had been in "unique level" in the past 100 years.
Speaking to Turkish journalists at the embassy in Ankara on Friday, Hosseinpour said that the trade volume between the two countries increased to 11 billion USD in 2010, adding that it rose 70 percent in the last three months. Hosseinpour noted that the trade volume would reach 15-16 billion USD by the end of the year.
Noting that Iranian President would pay his fifth visit to Turkey on Monday, the ambassador said that foreign ministers of the two countries mutually paid visits 6-7 times.
Recalling that a new border gate had recently been opened between Turkey and Iran, Hosseinpour said that another gate would be opened soon.
Regarding tourism sector, Hosseinpour said that two million Iranian tourists visited Turkey in 2010, adding that the number would rise to 2.5-3 million by the end of 2011.
Hosseinpour said that despite embargoes and pressure from the U.S., Iran reached a trade volume of 11 billion USD with Turkey, and 23 billion USD with the EU last year.
Commenting on terrorism issue, Hosseinpour said that there was a strong cooperation between Turkey and Iran in security area and in fight against terrorism, adding that if bank accounts were closed, PKK terrorist organization and its Iranian branch PEJAK would end just in one day.
Also commenting on recent incidents in North Africa and Middle East, Hosseinpour said that Iran supported legitimate demands of peoples in those regions, adding that they were against an external intervention in those countries.