Turkish ambassador visits religious minority MPs

Turkish ambassador to Iran Umit Yardim visited a number of Iranian religious minority MPs and Majlis’ Councils and Internal Affairs Committee chairman in separate meetings, discussing ways to expand the parliamentary cooperation and exchanging views, AVA diplomatic reports.During the meeting, Yonathan Betkolia who holds the parliamentary seat reserved for Assyrians, representative of the Iranian Jews in the parliament, Siamak Mare Sedgh, Esfandiar Ekhtiari, Zoroastrian MP stressed the significance of the expansion of friendly ties between the two countries.

In the beginning of the meeting, Betkolia noted the deep historical and cultural bonds and commonalities the two countries have, stressing on the need to expand friendly ties in all aspects particularly in parliamentary relations. “The expansion of bilateral ties will significantly increase peace and stability in the region,” he added.

“Religious minorities have lived in full peace and security for thousands of years in Iran and confronted no restrictions,” said Siamak Mare Sedgh stressing on the freedom of divine religions in Iran.

Later in the meeting, Ekhtiari noted that the peaceful lives of all the tribes and followers of different religions in Iran. “During its history, Iran has been like a colorful rug, home to different ethnicities. All residents of Iran call it their own mother land and will sacrifice their lives to defend it,” Ekhtiari added.

In a separate meeting with the Turkish ambassador to Tehran, Majlis’ Councils and Internal Affairs Committee chairman Amir Khojasteh noted the two countries’ historical and cultural commonalities, reiterating Iran and Turkey have always had amicable and fraternal relation as two Islamic neighboring countries and will continue to use all the existing potentials to establish and strengthen friendly cooperation in all areas.

“Iran and Turkey are to Muslim countries and two great regional powers that can help strengthen solidarity and fraternity in the world of Islam, barring the enemies from reaching their evil goals,” said Majlis’ Councils and Internal Affairs Committee chairman.

He underscored the significance of negotiation on the part of the two countries’ officials to establish and strengthen peace and security in the region particularly in the Syrian crisis.

Turkish ambassador Umit Yardim also noted the important roles Iran and Turkey play in establishing stability and peace in the region, expressing Turkish officials’ resolute determination to expand friendly ties with Iran.

“The Turkish government attaches special significance for the expansion of friendly relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” added Turkish envoy, while calling the bilateral relations friendly and brotherly.

The Turkish ambassador in Tehran called for further negotiation between the two countries’ officials to resolve bilateral issues and regional problems.