12 February 2016•Update: 13 February 2016
ANKARA
Turkey and Iran have agreed to continue “enhancing dialogue” a Foreign Ministry official told Anadolu Agency on Friday.
Umit Yalcin's remarks came after talks with the Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ibrahim Rahimpour in Ankara earlier this week.
"During the meeting, we agreed to continue enhancing our dialogue in the upcoming period via increasing mutual high-level contacts and visits," said Yalcin.
He said the countries agreed on improving economic and trade relations and benefiting from cooperation in the energy sector.
"Within the framework of our consultations, we exchanged views on regional issues especially … developments in Syria and Iraq.
"We touched upon the need to initiate a political process for stopping the bloodshed in Syria and implementing a real transition process," Yalcin said.
"In this respect, we expect Iran's regional policies to be constructive and we hope it [Iran] will understand how much it is [acting] in a wrong manner by cooperating with the Russian Federation and supporting the [Assad] regime," Yalcin added.
The Syrian government’s supporters, chiefly Russia and Iran, have called for President Bashar al-Assad to be part of the transition process.
Turkey, which has taken in a large number of Syrian refugees, is deeply opposed to Assad remaining in power, accusing his regime of being responsible for the deaths of thousands of people.
