In his speech prior to the meeting, Erdoğan described the high-level cooperation council as one of the symbols of the Turkey-Iran cooperation and expressed his wish for the meeting to be beneficial for the two countries.

“We unfortunately had to hold this meeting via videoconference. Nevertheless, the fact that we displayed the will to convene the meeting is itself an important message. The Turkey-Iran dialogue has a determining role in the solution of many regional problems. I am of the belief that we will achieve the former level in our cooperation with the alleviation of the pandemic circumstances,” Erdoğan stated.

“We will emerge stronger from the pandemic as the countries of the region”

Wishing Allah’s mercy upon the Iranian citizens who died from COVID-19 and a speedy recovery to the ones currently under treatment, Erdoğan said: “With the medical supplies and assistance we provided at the beginning of the pandemic, we showed that we stand with the people of Iran. I believe that we will overcome the pandemic by acting together as the whole humanity.”

Noting that he thinks Turkey and Iran as well as other countries of the region will emerge stronger from the pandemic, Erdoğan said: “Today, our colleagues will contribute to the council in all of these matters regarding our bilateral and international cooperation. I believe that the decisions we are to make today will add momentum to the topics on the agenda related to our bilateral relations.”

President Rouhani of Iran: “Iran and Turkey are two major powers in the region”

President Rouhani of Iran, for his part, said that the borders of the two countries have always been “the borders of peace and friendship”, and underlined that the efforts of the two governments have been based on the development of bilateral relations and regional and international cooperation.

Drawing attention to the fact that Turkey and Iran have a sensitive location in the Middle East, Rouhani of Iran stated: “Iran and Turkey are two major powers in the region, and there have always been animosities and grudges against both countries, which still exist today; therefore, there is no way other than strengthening friendly relations between the two countries to overcome such conspiracies.” (ILKHA)