Iran, Turkey to boost tourism cooperation

Ankara, Turkey, Dec 2, IRNA - Head of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Hamid Baqaei said here on Wednesday that Iran’s free zones boast of higher potentials and capabilities which can be exploited by establishing airlinks.
In a meeting with Turkish Culture Minister Ertugral Gunay, he added that tourism, in fact, is a kind of economic transaction. Iran and Turkey should reach equilibrium in this respect.

Stating that more than one million Iranians visit Turkey each year, he noted the number of Turkish visitors to Iran is one third of that figure.

Now that the two countries are set to develop bilateral cultural ties, a balance in the number of the two countries’ tourists is of paramount significance, he underlined.

Given the fact that there is no problem in issuing visas for the two states, the balance will hopefully be achieved, Baqaei noted.

Iran has set up 1,000 exemplary tourist sites, he said, declaring the country’s readiness to absorb foreign investors and setting up a joint bank with Turkey.

The official further noted that Iran and Turkey enjoy proximity since the ancient times and hoped that cultural steps such as holding exhibitions will promote affinity between them.

Gunay, for his part, said that some seven million people travel to Turkey each year, one million of which are Iranians.

Referring to the similarities between the tourism sites of the two countries, he said that serious steps should be taken in line with enhancing interactions.

Paving the grounds for establishing airlinks from Iran’s tourist sites to Turkey will help boost two-way tourism ties, he said.
Source : IRNA

Mottaki: Iran-Russia cooperation helps restore regional tranquility

Tehran, Nov 30, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Monday that constructive cooperation between Iran and Russia helps restore peace and tranquility to the entire region.
Mottaki made the remarks in the 8th meeting of Iran-Russian Joint Economic Commission in Tehran.

He said that ties between Iran and Russia have developed in various fields after the triumph of the Islamic Revolution.

"Iran and Russia with huge natural and energy resources would play leading role in the globe and boost cooperation."

Mottaki called for enhanced level of trade in light of high potentials in various fields the two countries possess.

Mottaki gave a proposal to adopt monitoring system for foreign trade or barter trade to save national economies of both Iran and Russia from the current global financial crisis.

The Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko, for his part, thanked the Iranian foreign minister for hosting the 8th Iran-Russia Joint Economic Commission and said the two countries reviewed all regional developments and ways to expand economic and commercial ties.

Iran and Russia should try to increase current level of cooperation in energy, electricity, oil and gas to a satisfactory level, he said.

The two sides have decided to enhance level of mutual cooperation in gas and oil sectors, he pointed out.

The two sides inked four documents in 17 chapters and 120 articles at the joint economic commission.

Source : IRNA

Minister: Iran, Russia to boost military cooperation

TEHRAN, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said that Iran and Russia are to boost military cooperation, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Sunday.

"Tehran and Moscow are to review ways to enhance military cooperation during an upcoming visit to Russia by Iranian defense minister," Fars said.

Najjar is scheduled to travel to Moscow on Monday to discuss military and technical cooperation and review implementation of agreements inked by the two countries, according to Iran's defense ministry.

He is also slated to pay a visit to Russian defense industries.

In December, Deputy Director of the Russian Federal Organization for Military and Technical Cooperation Alexander Foumin said that his country intended to expand joint cooperation with Iran, which would have a positive impact on stability in the Middle East region.

Such a cooperation has raised concerns about the rising military capabilities of Iran, as the Western observers has elaborated.

However, earlier this month, Iranian ambassador to Russia Seyed Mahmoud Reza Sajjadi played down such concerns.

"Probably, there will be some changes, but generally the scale of this cooperation is not that large as (the media) allege," Sajjadi told a news conference in Moscow, adding that "We think that Iran-Russia military-technical cooperation is slightly exaggerated." 　

Source : Chinaview.cn