Turkey urges stronger ties with Iran

ANKARA, Jan. 8 (MNA) – Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan has called for development of all-out relations with Iran.


In a meeting with Iranian Industry and Mines Minister Ali-Akbar Mehrabian in Ankara, Babacan stressed on the importance of eliminating obstacles hindering maximum cooperation in economic, trade, and industrial relations between the two nations.


Mehrabian arrived in Turkey on Thursday at the invitation of Turkish Trade and Industry Minister Nihat Ergun, leading a delegation made up of government officials, parliament members, and private sectors' figures.


The Turkish deputy prime minister, who is in charge of that country’s economy, commended agreements signed between Mehrabian and the Turkish trade and industry officials and called for expanding relations between the two countries, and on ports of Trabzon and Shahid Rajaee.


He also highlighted ties in tourism between Tehran and Ankara.


Mehrabian assessed his negotiations with Turkish officials as positive and said that if grounds were prepared for the two countries private sectors to operate, obstacles for trade and industrial expansion would be removed and long-term plans would be realized.


He added that if the currencies of the two countries were accepted by two sides this would help bilateral investment.


The Iranian official said that Turkey could further benefit from Iran’s privatization plans.


Babacan showed interest in this proposition.