Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution met today with the Turkish President Abdullah Gul and his accompanying delegation. Speaking at the meeting, which was also attended by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Ayatollah Khamenei said that the Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey are two Muslim and brother countries. He reiterated that the current political and economic relations between Iran and Turkey are unique compared to previous years. He added that it is necessary to use this historic opportunity to realize the numerous potentialities that the two countries enjoy.
His Eminence referred to the mutual policy adopted by Iran and Turkey to triple the amount of trade exchanges and added: "We believe that countries which are close to each other can continue their political and economic cooperation as a single unit with the purpose of improving the efficiency of this cooperation."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that the position of Turkey in the world of Islam is very different compared to previous years. He added that independence against the west, keeping a distance from the Zionist regime and supporting the people of Palestine are among the factors that have brought Turkey closer to the Islamic Ummah.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated: "This policy is the right policy, and the more Turkey approaches the great world of Islam, the more this will benefit Turkey and the world of Islam."
Ayatollah Khamenei said that Iran and Turkey have similar positions on regional issues, especially the issues of Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine. He added: "The recent developments in Egypt are also very important, and we can act in the interest of the Egyptian people and the people of the region."
His Eminence stated that decades of American and Zionist hegemony over Egypt and humiliation of the Egyptian people were the main cause of the Egyptian uprising. He reiterated: "The Egyptian people are faithful Muslims, and they enjoy strong Islamic motives."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed: "Whenever the people step into the arena, the course of events will change, and the common political and military tools will lose their effectiveness. And the Egyptian people are in the middle of the arena."
Ayatollah Khamenei added: "The Americans want to take control of the great movement of the people of Egypt. The Islamic Republic of Iran is opposed to the interference of foreigners in Egypt, and it believes that it is the people who should be the main decision-maker."
His Eminence said that the most important issue in the world of Islam is to preserve and strengthen the unity of the Islamic Ummah and to avoid falling into foreigners' trap in this regard. "If the world of Islam recognizes its great capacities and capabilities, the conditions will be very different, and the world of Islam will be able to play a role in international developments as an influential power."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution said that the English government is the main element that causes discord among Muslims. Stressing that all policies of Islamic countries should contribute to the unity of the world of Islam, he reiterated: "The west has always humiliated the world of Islam, and any government or nation that is determined to stand up against this humiliation and show its capabilities will be faced with obstructionism and opposition from the west."
Ayatollah Khamenei underscored the divine promise of assistance for Muslims and added: "If one pays attention to the current conditions of the region and the hegemonic powers and compares them with the past, the signs of divine assistance will be completely obvious."
His Eminence added: "America and the arrogant western powers have turned the region into their stomping ground, but what is their situation now? How is the situation of the Zionist regime compared to 30 years ago? Compare Iran with 30 years ago. What is the difference between today's Turkey and the Turkey of 30 years ago? What are the differences between the current situation of Iraq and Palestine and their situation in the past? All these examples are signs of divine assistance, and this process will continue with more speed."
During the meeting, the Turkish President Abdullah Gul expressed his satisfaction over his meeting with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and said that the relations between Turkey and Iran date back to ancient times. He referred to his negotiations with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and said: "Good negotiations were conducted in Tehran, and we hope that the cooperation between the two countries in different sectors, especially in private sectors, will prepare the way for great achievements."
President Abdullah Gul referred to the regional developments and said: "All the signs show that the region is changing, and hopefully these changes will be in the interest of the people of the region."
Abdullah Gul also said that it is important to preserve the unity between Islamic countries in regional issues.