Tehran, YJC. President Rouhani has left Iran for Turkey on a one-day trip, first visit in 18 years by an Iranian president.
Hassan Rouhani left Tehran for Ankara on Monday morning. Prior
to his departure he said to reporters "Turkey is a western neighbor to Iran with
which we have been in good political and economic relations in the past years.”
"The new administration announced one of its main programs
to be the expansion of ties with neighbors. Within the very first days of the administrative
term preparations were made for the upmost-ranking officials of Turkey to visit
our country,” he maintained.
The President added "In this trip we will discuss mutual
relations in economy, especially with regard to oil, electricity, and gas. There
are issues such as roads, customs, culture, tourism, and the like which will
also be mentioned; and there are documents on political and security concerns which
will be signed.”
President Rouhani asserted "People are well aware that Iran and
Turkey occupy unique geopolitical positions. In fact we can easily connect the
Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the Mediterranean, or the Indian Ocean to
the Atlantic Ocean for that matter. Therefore, the two countries’ relations are
highly significant to the entire region.”
He further pointed out "Both countries are neighbors to
Syria and Iraq. It is heartening that in the past months we have seen positive
developments in the region, which also need to be talked about.”