IRAN: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on official visit to Iran

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, heading a high ranking delegation, arrived in Tehran, Iran on Saturday (December 2) evening for an official visit. Erdogan was welcomed by Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. Before leaving Turkey, Erdogan said he wanted his talks in Iran to focus on how Ankara and Tehran can work to help stabilise the Middle East. He will also hold discussions on Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. In the past Turkey has repeatedly said it wants Iran to co-operate with the international community and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over its nuclear programme. The US and other western countries accuse Iran of using its nuclear energy programme as a guise for developing nuclear weapons. A claim Iran denies. An official welcome ceremony took place on Sunday (December 3) in the Presidential compound, where Erdogan was greeted by First Vice-President Parvez Davoudi. Erdogan is also due to meet Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during his visit. Turkey is 99 per cent Muslim and shares a long border with Iran. The two countries enjoy good relations.

ITN Source | December 3, 2006

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