Iranian President Hasan Rouhani and President Abdullah Gül shake hands at the Çankaya presidential palace in Ankara, June 9. AA Photo
Iranian President Hasan Rouhani arrived in Ankara early June 9 for crucial talks on a number of key issues in his first official trip to Turkey since he took over the presidency last year.
“Turkey and Iran, as the region’s two powerful countries, are determined to continue consultations about extremist terror. Violence and extremism rooted in our region are against the interests of all countries. The terrorist groups that have emerged in Syria and those – mainly Western countries - who have supported or tolerated them have already regretted that. Those who did not regret until today, will regret it tomorrow,” Rouhani told at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan following the meeting of High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
Rouhani said Turkey and Iran could play an important role in the fight against violence and extremism as part of Tehran’s application to the U.N. to launch a global initiative. “The fight against terror is the duty of us all. It’s an obligation for the security and stability of our region,” he said.
The Iranian president drew a totally different picture on Syria compared to the Turkish stance, arguing that the recent presidential elections there were the "first step to stability and peace." Rouhani said Syrians would determine their future after "expelling foreign terrorists" from the country and "ending violence." He also confirmed that he sent a congratulatory message to President Bashar al-Assad following his election victory.
Ties with Iran important for the world: Gül
Earlier in the day, Rouhani was welcomed by Turkish Water and Forestry Minister Veysel Eroğlu and other governmental officials, after his plane, carrying an Iranian delegation composed of one vice president, seven ministers and a number of businessmen, landed in Ankara.
Rouhani directly went to the Çankaya Palace where he was welcomed by President Abdullah Gül at an official ceremony. In line with Iranian protocol rules, Rouhani did not visit Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, even though the visit is part of Turkish state protocol rules implemented for official visits of foreign leaders.
The two presidents announced that they have decided to improve bilateral relations at the joint press conference following their meeting. “[Rouhani] is the first Iranian president who has paid an official visit to Turkey in the last 18 years. This is why the visit is historic,” Gül said, describing Iran as “an old, valuable friend.”
“The visit carries our bilateral relations forward in every area. We expressed our common will during the meeting,” Gül said, adding that several deals from culture to the economy had been agreed upon.
“Our relations are not just about two countries. They are important for the whole region and the world,” Gül said, repeating that Ankara wants a Middle East without weapons of mass destruction, while supporting very country’s right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
