Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Maj. Gen. Bagheri made the remarks after a Monday meeting with the Chief of the General Staff of Turkish Armed Forces, Hulusi Akar, in Tehran, adding “we conferred on common threats facing the two countries, including the Kurdistan region’s referendum on which both sides have the same stance stressing the preservation of Iraq’s territorial integrity.”
On Monday, Iraq’s Kurdistan held a referendum on independence despite widespread calls for its cancellation. The move has met severe opposition from the United Nations, the US, as well as all major regional and international parties, including Iran and Turkey, all stressing that the separation of Kurdistan region from Iraq would cause a new wave of tension in the region which is already grappling with ISIL terrorists.
Bagheri went on to add that the two sides also held talks on the recent victories of the Syrian Army and their allies in the fight against ISIL, as well as on broader topics regarding combating terrorism, border security, and armed forces cooperation for assisting the oppressed Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
“Iran and Turkey’s armed forces will have further cooperation in educational fields as well as in the form of staging more joint military excersies, which will be discussed during President Erdoğan's upcoming visit to Tehran," Bagheri said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is slated for an official visit to Tehran on October 4 to hold talks on bilateral and regional issues with Iranian senior officials.
For his part, the Turkish army chief noted that the two countries have agreed on increasing cooperation on political, economic, military and regional issues.
Hulusi Akar further highlighted his country’s resolve for expanding cooperation with Iran on combating terrorism and improving border security.
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