TEHRAN - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said on Sunday that Iran, having a wide potential in the region, was an important neighbor of Turkey.
Speaking to A.A correspondent, Gurel said, ''we both want to improve bilateral relations with Iran, and discuss issues pertaining to the region together.''
Pointing out that his contacts in Iran were very fruitful, Gurel said they decided for the steps that could be taken in bilateral relations. Gurel said, ''we have together determined that we particularly have an important potential in economic relations.''
Gurel said his meetings with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref-Yazdi were also very productive, adding that his visit to Iran would end after his scheduled meeting with Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly Mehdi Karubi. He said this visit would add momentum to bilateral relations between Turkey and Iran.
Pointing out that Turkey's attitude regarding regional issues with respect to Iraq and Northern Iraq was open, Gurel said they had the opportunity to learn the views of Iranian administration during the visit.
Gurel said, ''we have discussed those issues with Kharrazi in detail. We once again pointed out that we shared same concerns and that we have consensus of opinion that any solution in the region, apart from a peaceful solution, would have negative results. Both Turkey and Iran are sensitive on Iraq's territorial integrity.''
Gurel stressed that they thought Iraq should abide by the U.N. resolutions and accept the U.N. officials who should make inspection about mass destruction weapons. He said, ''on the other side we are in consensus of opinion that any international disagreement should not be solved with a method apart from peaceful methods.''