ANKARA
"We should solve the problems in Syria, Bahrain and Yemen without foreigners get involved, we ought to resolve those problems within the cooperation of regional countries. We are defender of those peoples' rights. We are certain that the escalating violence in the region will be for the benefit of Israel only. We should make an effort to stop the violence in these countries. In this direction, the national calls should start. All groups, from regime side to opposition groups, have to come together in order to hold democratic elections in Syria," said Mehmanparast during his visit to the Anadolu Agency headquarters on Tuesday in Ankara, the Turkish capital.
Mehmanparast stated that Turkey and Iran have historically, culturally and geographically common characteristics.
Defining the relations between Turkey and Iran as strategical, Mehmanparast said, "Sometimes we might clash over several issues. However, the high level officials from both sides coming together and share opinions."
Touching on sectarian tension on the region, Mehmanparast blame the western powers for it.
He claimed that those countries are trying to indicate a Sunni-Shia sectarian tension in the region.
Chairman of the Executive Board and Director General of Anadolu Agency (AA) Kemal Ozturk, in his part, said that Iran was one of the oldest and strongest neighbours of Turkey.
Ozturk stated that the friendship between both nations could be also seen in media sector.
"Both nations live in a dangerous region. We should establish a very strong and close relations in the sense of circulation of the news. AA's Arabic broadcasting particularly in the Middle East is very effective," Ozturk said.
Noting that AA had been broadcasting news in Turkish, English, Arabic, Bosnian and Russian so far, Ozturk stated that AA would begin publishing news in 11 languages by 2020.
