Iran: President departs for Turkey

14 August 2008

Tehran-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad left here for Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday heading a high-ranking delegation on a two-day official visit.

The visit is taking place upon an official invitation of his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul.

The president was officially seen off at the Mehrabad International Airport by first Vice-President Parviz Davoudi.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki as well as Minister of Energy Parviz Fattah, Oil Minister Gholam-Hossein Nozari and Head of Organization of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei are accompanying President Ahmadinejad.

During his two-day visit to Turkey, his first since he took office in 2005, the president would hold talks with the President Gul and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The two sides would discuss major bilateral, regional and international developments as well as issues related to the world of Islam.

President Ahmadinejad is also expected to meet a group of Turkish elites, writers, media staff and businessmen as well as a number of Iranians residing in Turkey.

Several agreements are also expected to be signed by Iranian and Turkish officials during the visit.