Iranian, Turkish FMs discuss Egypt, Syria

Iranian, Turkish FMs discuss Egypt, Syria
Sat Jul 13, 2013 21:21:09

Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu have met and held talks on major regional developments, most importantly Egypt and Syria.

Salehi arrived in Turkey on Friday, at the head of a high-ranking delegation, on a short visit to discuss major regional developments and the expansion of bilateral ties.

Elaborating on Iran’s viewpoints on regional developments, especially in Syria, the top Iranian official said Iran followed a basic policy of respecting public demands in regional countries.

He stressed that public demands need to be fulfilled within the framework of domestic political negotiations without any foreign interference.

The unrest in Syria erupted over two years ago and many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.

Regarding the developments in Egypt, he said that the Egyptians have the right to determine their fate, adding any “decision by the Egyptians is respected by all and the democratic trend initiated in Egypt will be lasting and become stronger by the day.” 

He also stressed the importance of the consolidation of national unity and solidarity in Egypt through the unity of the elites and all Egyptian groups.

Salehi said constructive stances by instrumental regional countries can establish enduring democracy in different regional states.

The official also hailed the expansion of ties between Iran and Turkey as positive and underlined the need for the promotion of bilateral cooperation in political, economic and cultural arenas.

He said that the determination of the high-ranking officials of the two countries to enhance ties in different areas played a significant role in boosting mutual cooperation.

The Turkish Foreign Minister, for his part, called for the employment of all potentialities to boost Tehran-Turkey ties.

He also briefed his Iranian counterpart on Turkey’s viewpoints on major regional developments, in particular in Syria and Egypt.

On July 3, the head of Egypt’s army General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced that President Mohamed Morsi was no longer in power. Al-Sisi also dissolved the Egyptian constitution.

The Chief Justice of Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court, Adli Mansour, was sworn in as interim president on July 4.

Since then, Egypt has been the scene of rival rallies and clashes between thousands of the supporters and opponents of Morsi.

HH/HH

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