TEHRAN - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that the Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) and the Iranian Natural Gas Company would carry out negotiations about technical details of natural gas agreement to be signed between Turkey and Iran.
Following the meeting between Turkish and Iranian delegations about revision of natural gas agreement, Prime Minister Erdogan and Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref held a joint news conference.
Prior to the conference, the memorandum of understanding of the 18th meeting of Joint Economic Commission was signed. Under the memorandum of understanding, Higher Security Commission will be formed between Turkey and Iran.
Speaking at the news conference, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''we have made serious political, economic, commercial and cultural progress in our bilateral relations with Iran in recent years. Turkey and Iran are two important countries in their region due to their economic potentials, geo-strategic positions and their contributions to the universal culture.''
''Both Turkey and Iran have suffered much from terrorism. Now, our countries decided to form a joint platform for fight against terrorism and terrorist organizations,'' he said.
Stressing that they were determined to further improve economic and commercial relations with Iran, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''the issue of natural gas was high on agenda of our meeting with Iranian First Vice President Aref. BOTAS and the Iranian Natural Gas Company will carry out negotiations about technical details of natural gas agreement to be signed between Turkey and Iran.''
AREF: WE DECIDED THAT TURKEY AND IRAN SHOULD FURTHER DEVELOP THEIR COOPERATION IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
Speaking at the conference, Aref stressed that Iran wanted to further strengthen its relations with Turkey under its principle of good neighborly relations.
Recalling that they had signed a memorandum of understanding envisaging formation of Higher Security Commission, Aref said that the memorandum of understanding would further consolidate cooperation between Turkey and Iran.
He recalled that Prime Minister Erdogan and he exchanged views about recent developments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine.
Aref told reporters that they decided to further develop cooperation between Turkey and Iran in fight against terrorism by taking into consideration that both countries had suffered much from terrorism.
Referring to their talks on energy, Aref said that the Turkish Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) and the Iranian Natural Gas Company would carry out negotiations about technical details of natural gas agreement to be signed between Turkey and Iran.
Meanwhile, upon a question on Turkey's attitude about nuclear energy, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''according to our point of view, countries can benefit from nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. However, nuclear energy should not be turned into weapons of mass destruction.''
(UK) 29.07.2004