Turkish envoy calls for closer ties between Tehran, Ankara

Turkey Ambassador to Iran Rıza Hakan Tekin said that Ankara is committed to increase all-out ties with Tehran, AVA Diplomatic reports.

He made the remarks in a ceremony held in the Turkish Embassy in Tehran to celebrate the country’s National Day.

Because of parliamentary elections, exchange of delegations between the two states has decreased in the previous months but after the elections, expansion of ties with Tehran will be a top priority for the new government, Tekin noted.

Referring to the security and economic challenges that threaten Iran and Turkey common interests, he said that the two states should increase consultations for resolution of problems.

Speaking about Iran and P5+1 nuclear deal, he congratulated the Iranian government and nation for the agreement.

World focused on Iran in a positive way after the nuclear deal, the envoy added.

Turkey Embassy in Iran celebrated 92nd anniversary of the country’s founding, Republic Day on October 29, Thursday evening.

Iranian Minister of Transport and Urban Development Abbas Akhondi as well as Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Pacific Affairs Ebrahim Rahimpour were the chief guests at the ceremony.

Akhondi and Tekin in a meeting held on the sidelines of the ceremony called for enhancement of all out ties between Tehran and Ankara.

The Republic Day of Turkey is one of the public holidays in Turkey and Northern Cyprus, commemorating the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.

The holiday commemorates the events of 29 October 1923, when Mustafa Kemal declared that Turkey was henceforth a republic. Turkey had de facto been a republic since 23 April 1920, the date of the establishment of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, but the official confirmation of this fact came only three-and-a-half years later. On 29 October 1923, the status of the nation as a republic was declared and its official name was proclaimed to be Türkiye Cumhuriyeti (‘the Republic of Turkey’). After that, a vote was held in the Grand National Assembly, and Kemal Atatürk was elected as the first President of the Republic of Turkey.