ANKARA - Human Rights Association (IHD) Chairman Husnu Ondul and Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for People (MAZLUMDER) Chairman Yilmaz Ensaroglu paid a visit to Iranian Ambassador to Turkey Firuz Devletabadi on Wednesday.
Speaking at the meeting, Ondul said that they had deeply commiserated with Iranian people who lost their beloved ones in last months' devastating quake disaster.
''We have decided to pay a visit to Devletabadi to learn the urgent requirements of the quake survivors,'' he said.
Meanwhile, Devletabadi said in his part that houses made of sun-dried bricks in Bam city of Iran, which was the center of the quake disaster, could not be strengthened against possibility of a quake since most of them were included in list of historical site. He noted that the city would be reconstructed in the coming period.
Reminding that a foundation was established in Iran in an effort to heal the wounds of quake survivors in Bam, Devletabadi said that all financial aid was collected in the foundation. He noted that Iranian government and Arab countries had donated 800 million U.S. dollars in aid so far.
Devletabadi noted that the most important requirement of the quake-stricken area was long-term aid for re-construction of the city.
Describing the sensitivity of Turkish people and state following the quake disaster in Iran as a great investment for the two neighboring countries, Devletabadi added, ''everyone in Bam talks about efforts of Turkish search-and-rescue teams, doctors and nurses. They have a deep mark in hearths of Iranian people.''
(UK-AÖ) 07.01.2004