|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
by Dina Rashed CHICAGO (Islam Online) - An Iranian delegation arrived in Ankara Tuesday to begin talks with Turkish officials concerning efforts to combat domestic armed activism. Both parties agreed to set up a security commission to investigate Islamic activists in Turkey after a meeting between Ismail Cem, the Turkish foreign minister, and Mohsen Aminzadeh, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, head of the Iranian delegation. "On the topic of terrorism, we share the same view, and I hope both countries will do all they can…. to bring their relations to a better state," Aminzadeh said. The Turkish government has been engaged in bloody confrontations lately with Hizbullah, a Turkish Islamic activist group whose aim is to establish Islamic rule in southeastern Turkey. Although the group shares the same name as Lebanon's Hezbollah, the Turkish group is not considered affiliated with its fellow namesake holder. Turkish media has been accusing Iran of backing the group. The group started in the southeastern parts of Turkey in the late 1980s. The initial aim of the group was to combat the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been fighting for self-rule in the region. Hizbullah killed several members of the PKK in the area during a period of Turkish government emergency rule. As a result, speculation concerning possible cooperation between Hizbullah and the government in a united effort against the PKK has risen from some segments within the country. The Iranian delegation received information concerning Hizbullah in order that they themselves may investigate allegations made by the media. Media speculations have been aided by the existence of arrangements between the two countries to combat Kurdish separatists fighting for their autonomy in Turkey. "It has been decided that Iranian and Turkish security and intelligence officials will come together and will work on such dossiers," a Turkish foreign ministry official said. Aminzedah will be meeting with the Turkish president to present a message from his Iranian counterpart. The talks will also focus upon general diplomatic relations between the two countries. |
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
