TEHRAN: Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s newly appointed Foreign Minister, on his first official visit to Iran, engaged in discussions with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. The two diplomats held a joint press conference in Tehran following their meeting.
Fidan emphasized that Turkey and Iran, as significant regional powers, bore a great responsibility for fostering peace and stability in the region. “With great power comes great responsibility. This responsibility extends to maintaining peace and stability in our region,” he asserted during the press conference.
While acknowledging that Turkey and Iran have differing positions on various regional matters, including the Syrian civil war, Fidan highlighted the enduring warmth of their neighborly relations. He underscored their shared commitment to regional stability, even in the face of differing perspectives.
Among the topics discussed during their meeting were regional issues, with a particular focus on Syria, Iraq, Palestine, the Southern Caucasus region, Yemen, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Libya. Fidan reiterated Turkey’s steadfast call for a political solution to the Syrian conflict, expressing the nation’s clear expectations from the Syrian regime.
One of Turkey’s primary concerns regarding Syria is the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of Syrian refugees who have sought shelter in Turkey. Fidan stressed the importance of implementing measures to prevent further refugee flows and cooperating in the fight against terrorism.
Cooperation Between Turkey and Iran
Fidan emphasized that the evolving regional developments and crises underscored the significance of cooperation between Turkey and Iran. He expressed the hope that their bilateral relations would continue to progress through established dialogue mechanisms such as the High-Level Cooperation Council.
In addition to their discussions, preparations for the forthcoming visit of Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi to Turkey for the eighth high-level cooperation meeting were discussed during the meeting, enhancing the prospects for strengthened bilateral ties.
The visit and discussions between the Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers reaffirm their commitment to regional cooperation and stability, even in the presence of divergent positions on certain regional issues.
