10/05/2010
The Anatolia news agency reported that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Sunday that Syria and Qatar back Turkish efforts for a diplomatic solution to the row over Iran's nuclear program.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Qatar's ruler, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, held three-way talks in Istanbul to discuss regional affairs.
Turkey and Brazil, both non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, are opposed to fresh sanctions against Iran, sought by the US, and have recently stepped up diplomatic efforts to resolve the standoff.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani was also in Turkey Sunday, holding talks with President Abdullah Gul in Istanbul at the start of a three-day visit, but no statement was made after the meeting, Anatolia reported.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Friday he had proposed to host talks between top Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, as a representative of world powers in the so-called P5+1 group, to break the standoff over Iran's nuclear program.
Iran has welcomed the idea and a reply is awaited from Ashton, he said.
On Monday, Larijani was expected to attend a meeting of parliament speakers and lawmakers from 28-Muslim countries in Istanbul to discuss Israeli plans to expand settlements in occupied East Jerusalem, which have infuriated the Muslim world.
In a meeting with Turkish Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin in Istanbul, Larijani said, "we admire your stances on important regional issues particularly Palestine's because the matter illustrates the enhancement of Turkey's position among Islamic countries."
Referring to Iran-Turkey economic relations, the Iranian official noted, "the two countries have taken effective steps and Iran’s Parliament supports bilateral economic ties." "Talks on Iran’s nuclear issue can help fix misunderstandings and definitely the two parliaments' cooperation could be very effective and useful," added Larijani.
He also referred to the recent executive committee of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting and added, "there is no need that other countries recognize Zionist regime's measure when the regime insults Palestinian nation, we stress our stances on defending Palestine."
Ali Sahin on his part said, "expanding Parliamentary relations between Iran and Turkey is an efficient way for maturing the two countries' ties."
Also in a meeting with Pakistan's Speaker of National Assembly Fahmida Mirza, Larijani said, "Iran intends to extend Tehran-Islamabad relationship." Referring to terrorism and its danger in the region, he added, "our inquiries after arrest of the Leader of Jundullah terrorist group Abdolmalek Rigi show that the US directly supports terrorism in the region and we can deliver our findings to Pakistani officials in case of need." "The important point is that the US pursues double standards in the world, its support for Taliban and terrorist groups in Iraq and Afghanistan were some instances of the issue," he continued.
Mirza, for his part, expressed hope that the talks in the OIC would help solve Palestinian nation's problems.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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