Tehran-Ankara ties is unique, Iran’s ambassador says

TEHRAN,April 8(MNA) – Iran’s ambassador to Turkey dismissed reports that relations between the two states have soured over the Syria crisis leading to Iran’s decision to change the venue of nuclear talks from Turkey to China or Russia. Relations between Iran and Turkey have been “unique” and the value of trade between the two neighbors has increased to reach over 16 billion dollars, Ambassador Bahman Hosseinpour told Turkish television channel NTV. The ambassador said Iranian and Turkish foreign ministers have paid frequent visits to each other’s capitals, adding that the Turkish prime minister has made three visits to Iran, demonstrating solidarity between the two countries. However, he said this does not mean that there are no disagreements, such as over the Syria crisis. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Iran at the head of a high profile political and economic delegation on March 28 and 29. Ambassador Hosseinpour said during the visit the two countries’ officials held detailed discussions over Syria in private and public, adding those who “talk of tension” in relations between the two countries do not have “information” about the ongoing issues. He also said the Turkish and Iranian officials are in contact over changing the venue of talks between Tehran and the 5+1 group ((the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, Russia, and China – plus Germany). Hosseinpour went on to reiterate comments by the Turkish foreign minister: that the results of the talks are more important than their location. The ambassador also said no Iranian government officials involved in the talks have said anything about the venue of the talks. “So far the administration and (chief nuclear negotiator) Dr. Jalili have said nothing in this regard.” The diplomat praised Turkey for its stance on the Iran nuclear issue, saying Ankara has “clearly” announced its position toward Iran’s nuclear program and has left no stone unturned to help resolve the dispute between Iran and the West. The Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador Wednesday over remarks by Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani denouncing the international conference on the Syria crisis which was hosted by Turkey. Speaking at an open session of the Majlis on Tuesday, Larijani said, “The name of the recent conference in Istanbul, which was called ‘Friends of Syria’ was not ‘Friends of Syria’, but rather its name was ‘servants to Israel’ (who met) to breathe a new life into it.” The ambassador said the parliament speaker’s remarks do not reflect Iran’s official position. “The Iranian foreign policy is determined by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, the president and the foreign minister. These remarks are not Iran’s official position,” Hosseinpour said. “Iran is a democratic country and all people can express views about issues.” On a question about a delay in meeting between Prime Minister Erdogan and President Ahmadinejad in Tehran, the ambassador said it was because Ahmadinejad was sick. “There was a delay in meeting between Ahmadinejad and Erdogan and that was because of president’s illness.”