Iran-Turkey-Mottaki
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said here Thursday that he is visiting Turkey to consult with Turkish officials on current developments in Iraq.
"Tehran and Ankara follow common goal of restoration of stability and tranquility in Iraq. I am visiting Turkey to discuss with Turkish officials Iraq developments," Mottaki told reporters upon arrival in Ankara Airport after a one-day visit to Syria.
Mottaki said he is also on a visit to Turkey to brief Turkish officials on Iran's latest nuclear developments.
The Iranian minister visits Turkey on an official invitation by his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan.
During his stay he will meet with Turkish president Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Minister of Economic Affairs and Treasury Mehmet Simsek.
Before visiting Turkey, Mottaki was in Syria where he met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his counterpart Walid Mualem and Vice- President Farooq al-Shara.
Assad told Mottaki in their meeting that continued consultations between Iranian and Syrian officials are helpful and necessary for foiling conspiracies hatched against both sides.
The Syrian president recalled his visit to France where he had said Europe's good relations with Syria and Iran will help it have a realistic attitude towards current regional affairs and play a constructive role there.
Meanwhile, Mottaki and his Syrian counterpart, Mualem, in a joint press conference voiced pleasure with freedom of a group of Lebanese prisoners by Israel.
Mottaki said Golan Heights are part of Syria, so they should return to the country, adding that Tehran strongly supports Syrian president's stand for return of the land to Syria.
He also welcomed the US presence in the Iran-Europe talks in Geneva over Tehran's nuclear issue. "Presence of the US envoy in Geneva (talks) will help Washington have their representatives hear directly Iran's stances in the meeting."
Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and the EU Foreign Policy Chief and the G5+1 envoy Javier Solana are scheduled to meet in Geneva on Saturday, July 20, to discuss Iran's nuclear issue. The G5+1 representatives, including the US Undersecretary of State William Burns, will take part in the meeting.
On opening of the US interest section in Tehran, Mottaki said the US call has been made informally and through media.
"Last year, we suggested direct Iran-US air link; we think that the air link and establishment of an interest section are worth considering by both sides," he said.
Somewhere in the press conference, Mottaki thanked Syria for its positive stances vis-a-vis Iran's nuclear issue.
Yet in a meeting with Shara, Mottaki said Iran and Syria support Iraqi legal government and Iraqis' deciding their own fate, believing that the two factors are necessary for foreign troop pull out.
Shara said in return that Iran and Syria's support for Iraqis will help restoration of stability and security there.
