IRAN SERIOUSLY CONCERNED AT TURKEY-ISRAEL MILITARY TIES

By IPS Diplomatic Correspondent Nina Kamran

ANKARA 17^th Jan. (IPS) Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi met Monday with Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit behind closed doors and told him about Iranian "serious concerns" over growing military and security arrangements between Turkey and Israel.

Though officials reported the two men discussed bilateral economic, trade relations and security co-operation, but Iranian diplomatic sources said Mr. Kharrazi "conveyed" to the Turkish premier Iran's "objections" to Turkey's military ties with the Zionist (Israel) regime.

Iran, which does not recognise Israel's right to exist, has strongly criticised military and security co-operation between Turkey and the Jewish state, describing it as a source of "great threat" to Iran's and the region's security and stability.

But as usual, Iran rejected the allegations and the English-language daily "Tehran Times" quoted an unidentified Foreign Ministry source saying that a Turkish delegation had gone to Iran and investigated numerous border areas without finding any evidence that Iran was sheltering PKK terrorists.

"This trip is a positive step for an all-around expansion of ties," Iranian Foreign Ministry's senior spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told the official news agency IRNA.

In an authorised commentary broadcast Monday coinciding with Kharrazi's visit, Tehran Radio said Iran wants assurance from Turkey that Zionist planes would not be allowed to use Turkish airspace to carry spy missions over Iran.

Kharrazi, a rigorous Muslim, arrived in Ankara Monday morning on a three-day official visit and was greeted by his Turkish counterpart Ismael Cem with whom he immediately started talks.

Welcoming the Iranian delegation, Cem expressed the hope that co-operation would develop between the two countries.

"He said Turkey and Iran have long-standing history with common cultural bonds and they are determined to upgrade co-operation in all areas", IRNA reported, adding that in his answer, Kharrazi pointed to the two neighbours great economic potentials, saying Iran was keen on promoting economic relations with Turkey".

Speaking briefly to reporters upon his arrival, Kharrazi termed Tehran-Ankara relations as "satisfactory" and expressed the hope that his talks with Turkish officials will help further expansion of bilateral ties.

Observers noted that both sides refrained from talking about the main topics.

"Although the agreement to buy Iranian natural gas which had been delayed by Turkey has recently been revised for fulfillment of the accord, observers believe that Israel is trying its utmost to mar Iran-Turkey ties and prevent the implementation of the agreement", the paper added.

"In the light of the fact that there is much to exchange in areas of trade, culture and politics which serve the national interests of both Iran and Turkey, it is indeed the heartfelt desire of the Iranian people and the Turkish nation to have sincere and good neighbourly ties between both countries, wrote "Tehran Times".

Iran on Wednesday asked Turkey for compensation for failing to complete its section of the pipeline under a $23bn agreement signed in 1996 to supply gas via a pipeline from northern Iran to Ankara.

Mr. Kharrazi is expected be received by Turkish president Suleyman Demirel and hold meeting with the Turkish businessmen in Istanbul before paying a symbolic visit to the historic city of Konya where is buried the famous Iranian poet Jalaeddine Roomi better known as Mowlana. ENDS IRAN TURKEY 17100