Iran’s VP to hold talks in Turkey

ANKARA

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (C) attends a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 08 June 2012. EPA Photo

A senior Iranian official is expected to hold meetings in Ankara in the coming days, the Anatolia news agency reported on Monday, adding that this trip had no link with the ongoing crisis between Turkey and Syria over the recently downed jet.

Iranian Vice President Ali Saidlo will be in Turkey to discuss economic relations between Turkey and Iran. His trip coincides with the launch of the Iranian Culture Days, slated for June 27.

Meeting with Günay

Along with Saidlo, Iran’s Culture Minister Sayyed Mohammed Huseyni will also be in Ankara on Wednesday and will meet with Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay. The officials’ program was been fixed prior to the crisis between Turkey and Syria over the downed Turkish jet.

In the meantime, Iranian Ambassador to Turkey Behrouz Housseipour canceled his press conference that was set for yesterday. Iran is the staunchest ally of Syria, which is embroiled in a 15-month conflict UN officials fear has become a civil war.