Syria crisis not affects Turkey- Iran ties

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has acknowledged that Turkey and Iran are divided over the position of Syrian administration and its future but dismissed that the crisis in Syria will have negative impact on ties with the Islamic republic which has staunchly supported the Syrian regime, Today's Zaman reported.

Iranian and Turkish leaders exchanged sharply opposing views last week in Tehran as they discussed how to deal with the crisis in Syria.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tehran strongly supports reforms in Syria under President Bashar Assad, but visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an said Assad can't be trusted and must step down.

Iran is Syria's closest ally, and Tehran has staunchly backed Assad during Syria's year-long uprising.

Khamenei rejected Turkey's position that Assad must step down.

"No," Davuto?lu responded when asked if Syrian crisis could negatively affect Turkish-Iranian relations by French-based TV channel Euronews. "Turkey-Iran relations are deeply rooted, neighborhood ties," he added. According to the foreign minister Turkey and Iran have divided opinions on several matters and that Erdo?an conveyed these concerns to Tehran during his key visit to the country last week.


/Trend/