On invitation of the Nour Centre for Strategic Research (Teheran), a Patriotic Party (Turkey) delegation, headed by Ret. Lt. Gen. İsmail Hakkı Pekin, visited Iran for diplomatic contacts. The visit started on April the 27th and lasted 3 days.
The delegation included Hasan Korkmazcan, Deputy Chairman of the Patriotic Party (Turkey), Former Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, YunusSoner, Deputy Chairman of the Patriotic Party (Turkey), Elif İlhamoğlu, Secretary General of the World Anti-Imperialist Youth Union and Prof. Dr. Sencer İmer, Former Director General of Turkish Iron and Steel Works
The delegation realized the following reunions.
- H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran;
- Dr. Sadollah Zarei, Chairman of NourCentre for Strategic Research;
- Mr. Alaeddin Bourjerdi, President of the Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Policy and National Security
- Dana Centre for Strategic Research
- Fars News Agency.
The delegation presented in his reunions the following proposals:
1. The foundation of a Union of West Asia as an answer to foreign intervention and security problems in the Near East / West Asia; consisting at first step of Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Azerbaidshan
2. The founding of a West Asian Parliamentary Union between these countries, consisting of active and former members of national parliaments as a first step to the union
3. Strategic cooperation between the research centres and Patriotic Party’s USMER (Research Centre for National Strategy)
4. Further contacts to enhance bilateral trade and investment using national currencies
All proposals were received with positive reaction and the Iranian national press, including government news agencies, paid great attention to the visit.
Following is a summary of the visit and the Iranian answers to the proposals.
The Patriotic Party met H.E, Mr.Ahmadinejad
The Patriotic Party (Turkey) follows the program of unification with neighbour countries and has accelerated its efforts. A delegationvisited Iran on the 27th of April. The Patriotic Party first visited former President of Iran H.E. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The meeting was held in the working office of Mr. Ahmadinejad in Tehran,with mutual solidarity and friendship messages.
In the meeting where the idea of West Asia Union has beenembodied, it was decided to take action for the realization of the 7 Countries 7 Seas Project in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economics and culture.
The Patriotic Party delegation was very warmly welcomed by former Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who said “I am hosting here my sisters and brothers, and it is a great pleasure for me.”
On behalf of the delegation, Deputy Chairman of the Patriotic Party and Chairman of the International Relations Bureau Mr. İsmail Hakkı Pekin expressed that the “Seven Countries and Seven Seas” Project will bring peace to the region. “We are against the export of terror by Turkish ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to our neighbour countries” said Mr. Pekin and added that such policy will at last target Turkey. He also stated that the slogan of his party, as Atatürk states, is “Peace at home, peace in the world.”
The former President of Iran Ahmadinejad stated that the ideas of the Patriotic Party on the region are very important and the cooperation of Syria, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Azerbaijan would be sufficient to drive imperialism out of the region.
The former Iranian President added “the imperialists are very active in our region, especially in Turkey and Iran, today.If each country acts alone against these activities, success cannot be achieved. Thus, the unification of the region is very important. If the 7 Countries 7 Seas Project can be achieved, I believe that there will be no need for someone else. The main drive of the unification here for the nations are the development, growth and fight against imperialism”.
Zarei: Patriotic Party offers new approaches on Turkey and the region
In its second day in Tehran,the Patriotic Party delegation visited the Nour Centre for Strategic Research. Expecting the delegation in his office,the Chairman of the Centre, Dr. Sadollah Zarei,emphasized that they have been following the Patriotic Party and its youth organization for more than a year and they are aware of their activities and works.
The sides discussed regional problems and activities for cooperation. During the meeting of 3 hours, Dr. Zarei said “We think that the Patriotic Party offers new approaches on Turkey and the region” and they mentioned that they are ready to cooperate with the Patriotic Party on the matter of Turkey and Iran.
During the discussions, the head of the delegation, Mr. İsmail Hakkı Pekin said “Israel, the Zionist Lobby and the oil lobby, consisting of giant companies, have been trying to keep the USA in the conflict in the region.” Dr. Zarei declared that “Turkey seems now confused. It is not clear what it is doing and which way it follows in the region. It is acting according to the demands of the USA. On the other hand, the US tries to establish an anti-Iran front with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan in the region, but this is not possible. Pakistan and Egypt have already refused. It is also not possible to establish the army that they planned to create with the ‘Decisive Storm’ against Yemen. And we are considering that the local powers in Yemen will also be at the table soon and the problems will be solved with domestic dynamics.”
Dr. Zarei also corrected wrong considerations on nuclear talks and stated that neither Iran nor Hamaney, the Guide of the Islamic Revolution of Iran could be allied with the USA. He added that the P5+1 talks have been misinterpreted.
At the end of 3-hour meeting, the parties agreed on a strategic cooperation.
USMER and NourCentre for Strategic Research will arrange joint work groups on regional and global developments and design joint projects as a result of these works. The conclusions of the common research work will be sent to Ministry of Guidance and Foreign Affairs in Iran and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and General Staff in Turkey and other higher offices in both countries.
The Patriotic Party (Turkey) visited the Iranian Parliament
On the 2nd day, the Patriotic Party delegation visited the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well.
The delegation followed the meeting of the Parliament about the Central Bank. Afterwards, the delegation has been received by Mr. AlaeddinBorujurdi, head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee.
Developments in the region and the West Asia Union
The agenda of the meeting of about 2 hours were the developments in the region, the struggle against imperialism and the West Asia Union and a regional union of national parliamentarians.
Borujerdi pointed to the anti-imperialist struggle in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran and to the technological, political and economic successes achieved after the revolution. He emphasized that the main policy of his country is independency and the importance of determination and of relying to the people.
Borujerdi: “We appreciate the revolutionary and firm stance of the Patriotic Party”
The Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Parliament expressed his happiness to receive the delegation of the Patriotic Party in the Parliament of Iran and harshly criticized the foreign policy of the AKP administration, especially the policy implemented in the Syrian issue.
Saying that he appreciates the “revolutionary and firm stance” of the Patriotic Party, Borujerdi went on in response to the suggestion for a West Asia Union “In case of cooperation of the regional countries, the US cannot do anything in the region”. The Former Minister of Interior of Iran said that “this union should be established as soon as possible”.
Borujerdi: “We accept your offer for a Parliamentarians Platform”
Borujerdi responded positively to the suggestion of Mr. Hasan Korkmazcan, member of the Patriotic Party delegation and former Deputy Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, to establish a West Asia Parliamentarians Platform under the leadership of Turkey and Iran and stated that he definitely supports this idea. He added “even more, I declare the establishment of this platform now”.
According to the decision taken in the meeting, it has been decided to include former and acting parliamentarians from Syria, Iraq and Azerbaijan in the platform established under the leadership of Turkish and Iranian parliamentarians.
Deputy Chairman of the Patriotic Party Mr. Pekin: “We will cooperate on the nuclear energy issue”
İsmail HakkıPekin, head of the delegation, besides regional issues addressed nuclear energy issues as well. Pointing out that producing nuclear energy is the right of all countries including Iran, Pekin added that with the government of the Patriotic Party in Turkey, Turkey and Iran will cooperate for nuclear energy and that this way the exploitation of the region by other actors will be prevented.
Press Conference in Teheran
The Patriotic Party (Turkey) delegation, headed by Ret. Lt. Gen. İsmail Hakkı Pekin, the Deputy Chairman of the Patriotic Party, visited on the 3rd day of the Iran visit the Fars News Agency. Here, Pekin held a press conference and answered the questions of the Iranian press. Pekin stated:
“The AKP government which is in power since 2002 was from its beginning an US project. At first, its discourses also about Syria were different but it was always the US that set the policies. The government had an Islamic appearance but they only used Islam to delude the people. With the failure of the Middle East policy of the US, the foreign policy of the AKP failed as well.” Afterwards he continued his statements on the nuclear energy issue. “We, as the Turkish nation, regard Iran possessing nuclear energy as positive. When the Patriotic Party enters the Parliament, Turkey and Iran will cooperate on this issue as well. This way, we will prevent non-regional actors from making us dependent and exploit us.
After the meeting at the Fars News Agency the delegation returned to Turkey.