Turkish FM: Iran, Turkey keep close cooperation in fighting terrorism

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davoodoghlou said on Wednesday that Iran and Turkey are closely cooperating to combat terrorism. “The cooperation is so close since the two countries’ authorities always pay attention to what the other side says,“ he told a press conference. Turkish highly circulated daily 'Yeni Shafagh' affiliated to the government claimed on Tuesday that Iran had arrested Morad Karialan, PKK man number 2 and later released him after negotiations with PKK. The paper added that Iranian forces arrested Kardialan along with some other PKK ring leaders and took them to Orumiyeh in West Azarbaijan province but deliberately released them before an Turkish air raid on Ghandil mountain. Davoodoghlou reiterated that media must be aware not to publish unreal news, arguing that he had brought up the issue in a telephome conversation with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi last month. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and the government spokesman Boland Arnich also on Tuesday said Ankara prefers to act cautiously in such a situation. 'We have no information about the claims raised by Yeni Shafagh but in case we get some we will share it with the public opinion and media,' He added. The spokesman said no country can lonely and successfully fight terrorism, so Turkey stretches its hands toward neighbouring countries such as Iran, Iraq and Syria to share their experiences in the war on terrorism with it.