At a joint press conference of the foreign Ministers of Iran and the Republic of Turkey, Mohammad Javad Zarif and Mevlut Cavusoglu, declared the beginning of export to Turkey natural gas from Iran.
As emphasized during his visit to Turkey, Iranian foreign Minister, he and his Turkish counterpart will make every effort to ensure that Turkey before the end of this month could take the “blue fuel” from Iran.
The Minister of foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif the head of the government delegation departed last Monday in Turkey for talks with Turkish foreign Minister. As previously reported, the program of the visit Zarif in Turkey covers the discussion of issues of bilateral relations and international agenda. After a visit to Turkey Mohammad Javad Zarif has headed to Russia for talks with his Russian counterpart, foreign Minister of Russia, Sergey Lavrov.
On the eve of the visit of the head of the Iranian foreign Ministry in Turkey, Ankara announced that are regularly held at the level of heads of States of the tripartite to discuss the Syrian perspective (comprising the leaders of Turkey, Iran and Russia) should take place in a videoconference mode. It was to be held this year at the invitation of the Iranian side, but the meeting was postponed at first in connection with the outbreak of coronavirus, and later it was decided to hold the talks in the format of videoconference.
As it became known to news Agency “Fars”, upon arrival in Istanbul, Zarif said that relations between Iran and Turkey are very close and have been developing dynamically in a number of areas, however there are some issues that require further consultations and discussion. Zarif regretted that because of the pandemic of coronavirus, the discussion of these problems at the governmental level did not occur in recent time, although the heads of state and heads of foreign ministries of both countries, and other officials regularly communicated and discussed them by phone. As an added Zarif, at the moment he has found it necessary and possible to pay a visit to Turkey to discuss bilateral agenda, to discuss intensification of economic cooperation, especially cooperation in the energy sector, as well as to exchange views on regional issues.
On the first day of visit of the foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic to Turkey, meeting with Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, both parties have assured each other of mutual support in the fight against coronavirus infection and its consequences, and discussed possible ways to offset the decline in trade and economic relations in connection with the epidemic observed in the last four months due to associated difficulties with the epidemiological constraints.
The discussion touched upon such a strategically important for both countries component in trade and economic cooperation, as energy exports: as you know, Iran is in need of constant partners for the purchase of Iranian oil and natural gas, in the presence of a stable partner. In the diversification of sources of supply of raw materials needed and the Turkish side, what has recently stated in Ankara. At the meeting of foreign Ministers, Zarif pointed to the need for an early resumption of exports to Turkey of natural gas and the required acceleration in carrying out repairs on the damaged section of the pipeline.
The parties agreed to continue to discuss in Astana the traditional format of Syrian issues to resume meetings in Astana as soon as possible, practically in the next few weeks, and decided to hold full-time trilateral meeting in Tehran as soon as possible. But in addition to Syria, the foreign Ministers of the two countries discussed other important for Tehran and Ankara subjects of regional and international cooperation: to those in recent years, has always treated issues of combating terrorism and extremism in the middle East, as well as the problem of armed conflict in Libya and Yemen.
The relationship of the neighbors is always a priority
As written at the end of the visit, the Iranian foreign Minister on Twitter, he held in Istanbul with the foreign Minister of Turkey Cavusoglu and other top officials of the Turkish state very detailed exchange of views on various issues, and took his Turkish counterpart, calling to their friend, “useful important decisions” to strengthen bilateral cooperation and regional issues.
Also the foreign Minister wrote that it is crucial and necessary to maintain a dialogue and consultations on bilateral issues, as well as always important a sincere and friendly atmosphere of negotiations.
“The development of Iran’s relations with its closest neighbours are for the Islamic Republic a priority” — wrote in his Twitter account, Zarif, obviously, referring to the visit to Turkey, and started immediately after his own visit to Moscow.
The resumption of natural gas exports
After the two rounds of talks with Minister of foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu together with the Turkish counterpart of the press conference, Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed condolences to all the families who lost their loved ones in the epidemic, while a senior Iranian diplomat praised the support and friendship of the Turkish people and the state. According to Zarif, the coronavirus pandemic showed that the world is interdependent, and despite an emergency in these conditions, isolation, international problems cannot be solved by unilateral. The head of the Iranian diplomat added that even those who externally are considered in the modern world superpower or a superpower, however, can not cope with such a problem, like a virus, they are powerless against him. And because of their idea that someone can rule the world alone, is a huge mistake and already hopelessly out of date.
Speaking of super powers, Zarif pointed to the US and added that it was because of their irresponsible policy aimed at hegemony, the US is now experiencing enormous internal problems, as in pandemic and inter-ethnic character. However, even while they insist on the continuation of sanctions against Iran, aiming to strike as the country’s economy and people. However, Zarif expressed gratitude to the “brotherly Turkish people” who helped “confront the unjust and unilateral sanctions.”
Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed satisfaction with the assurances of the Turkish government that it will do its best to supply Iranian gas to Turkey resumed by the end of this month. And thus, this summer the Turkish people and the Turkish industry will be able to obtain the necessary energy. The Minister told journalists that during the negotiations with the Turkish colleague had solved not only the problem of gas exports and the bilateral trade tariffs and other subjects of economic cooperation. Zarif also expressed hope that the visit of leader of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Iran will continue the work on formation of the Commission on the development of strategic relations.
Regarding regional cooperation, the foreign Minister of Iran said that both countries have a very positive dynamic, including in the important for the entire region the Syrian issue. The Minister expressed his confidence that the Astana process and cooperation will be resumed in the near future.
Relative to the other important regional issues, Yemen, Zarif said that both countries, Iran and Turkey, since the beginning of the civil conflict, from the spring of 2014, clearly and unequivocally advocate that as soon as possible to end the plight of the Yemeni people, resulting from the internal conflict for his non-violent solution. Zarif assured that Iran and Turkey continue to work together to find mechanisms for the peaceful resolution of the conflict and continue cooperation in this area. Speaking of another important middle East conflict, the Libyan, Zarif noted that Iran and Turkey have similar positions, namely, in the unconditional respect for territorial integrity and compliance with all previous agreements. Zarif expressed hope that the disaster of the Libyan people should be completed as soon as possible, and all parties to the conflict recognize that the government, which is already recognized by the international community.
Special report prepared by the “news Service” Kayhan
