TEHRAN - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami received on Sunday Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel who currently holds contacts in Tehran.
Speaking after the meeting, Gurel expressed pleasure over Khatami's receiving the Turkish delegation and having opportunity to benefit from mutual views on regional issues and bilateral relations.
Gurel said he met Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi in the morning and discussed bilateral relations between Turkey and Iran as well as regional issues.
Foreign Minister Gurel said his visit to Iran, which took place upon the invitation of Kharrazi would be an important progress on Turkish-Iranian relations, stressing that this was a very fruitful visit.
Responding to a question about probable operation of the United States on Iraq, Gurel said, ''Turkey always favored peaceful solutions and territorial integrity in international problems.''
Kharrazi, who participated in Khatami-Gurel meeting, pointed out that they wanted to solve all problems with Iraq, remaining from Iran-Iraq war, and live together as two neighbouring countries.
Kharrazi said Iranian administration did not favor a military operation on Iraq, noting that Tehran always closely followed the changes in the region. He said Iran was always careful on the issue.
Meanwhile, Strategic Researches Center (SAM) and Iranian Policy and International Studies Institute signed memorandum of understanding. Gurel and Kharrazi also attended the signing ceremony.