Let’s bridge Turkey and Iran to link Europe to Far East, Iranian President Rouhani says

ANKARA

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stands next to the head of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, during the Turkey-Iran Business Council meeting in Ankara, June 10. AA Photo

Turkey and Iran should be an economic bridge connecting Europe to Asian countries for regional development, the Iranian president said on his visit to Ankara, calling on Turkish businessmen to invest in Iran as international sanctions ease during his term.

“Turkey is a bridge connecting to the West and Europe, while Iran is a bridge to the Far East; we should use these two countries as a bridge for regional development,” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said while addressing the Turkey-Iran Business Council, which was hosted at the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).

“A stable and developed Turkey makes us Iranians proud,” Rouhani said, adding that the Iranian people would never forget the support Turkish people provided throughout history.

With a decrease in political risks following the easing of sanctions, Iran now awaits Turkish businessmen and investors looking to increase their operations in the country, he said, stressing that the interests of Turkey and Iran “do not contradict each other.”

Both countries have human resources and their economies should not compete but complement each other, Rouhani said.

Iran’s new policy is to make the private sector more efficient, Rouhani said, while adding that some necessary steps had already been taken.

Turkish President Abdullah Gül, for his part, said Turkey and Iran had already completed the necessary legal framework to boost trade between two counties, adding that it was now time to implement them. He urged Iranian entrepreneurs to invest in Turkey in order to enhance economic ties.

Gül stressed the importance of supporting entrepreneurs in a “win-win” situation and of improving the physical infrastructure necessary for implementing the trade agreements.

Elaborating on talks in Geneva on Iran’s nuclear program, Rouhani said his country would try to secure a deal in negotiations. “Iran will do its best for a final deal with the P5+1,” he said, as Tehran and Washington began a second day of talks in Geneva on Iran’s nuclear program.