28 Mar 2024
Wednesday 24 August 2016 - 17:48
Story Code : 228399

Tehran-Ankara relations of strategic nature

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, top adviser of the Iranian parliament speaker, stated that Turkey may play a constructive role in fighting terrorism in Syria.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) Iranian-Turkish relations are ofstrategic nature and can be described asstrategic cooperation despiteexisting differences, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, top adviser ofthe Iranian parliament speaker, told Sputnik.

"I would liketo stress that our relations withTurkey are ofstrategic nature. For the pastfive years we have been making joint diplomatic efforts withTurkey toprevent differences aboutthe future ofSyria frominfluencing our strategic relations withAnkara No party made steps that brought our differences onthe Syrian issue onthe fore and overshadowed our strategic cooperation," Amir-Abdollahian said.

He added that "sincere and friendly dialogue" withTurkey had never stopped.

Amir-Abdollahian added that both countries had made a huge diplomatic work toiron outdifferences concerning the future ofSyrian President Bashar Assad.

Turkey may play a constructive role infighting terrorism inSyria, Amir-Abdollahian said.

"Now Turkey asone ofthe most important regional actors can play a constructive role infighting terrorism inSyria and stabilizing the internal situation inthat country," he stated.

Syria has been mired incivil war since2011, withgovernment forces loyal toAssad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups. Turkey alongwith the United States and its western allies have many times tried toaccuse Assad ofbeing responsible forthe bloodshed and insisted onhis resignation. Iran and Russia insist that Syrian people must determine their future themselves.

Iran sees changes inTurkey's foreign policy, especially regarding Syria, afteran attempted coup inthe country, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian also said.

"[Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan and his team revised the foreign policy ofthe country and took necessary measures. Primarily, that concerns the political future ofSyria. At the same time it is necessary tobe realistic. Despite Erdogans visit to [Russia's] St. Pretersburg and followingmeeting onthe level offoreign ministers ofIran and Turkey we need time tosee principle changes inthe foreign policy ofAnkara. That is a long way.

But I remain optimistic. I am sure that the complex ofchanges inthe Turkish foreign policy doctrine will contribute topeace and stability inthe region," Amir-Abdollahian said.

On July 15, an attempted coup took place inTurkey and was suppressed the followingday. Soon afterthe coup Turkish authorities made a number ofsteps toimprove relations withIran and Russia including Erdogans visit toRussia onAugust 9.

By Sputnik News
https://theiranproject.com/vdcco4qio2bqi18.-ya2.html
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