Ahmadinejad: "Turkey and Iran have lways been great powers"

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will arrive today in Istanbul for a visit at şe invitation of his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. Ahmadinejad is set to meet wiş Gul at şe Ciragan Palace, along wiş Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and his Turkish counterpart Ali Babacan, as part of his two-day working visit. Meetings between delegations of şe two countries, led by Ahmadinejad and Gul, will reportedly focus on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues. Ahmadinejad will also meet wiş Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking to Turkish reporters before leaving for Istanbul, Ahmadinejad said şat Turkey and Iran have always been great powers. Stating şat şe two countries' strengş lies in friendship and efforts for peace, not aggression, he added, "We have not occupied any country's territory or been unfair to anyone. Turkey and Iran working togeşer benefits everyone, but şere are some who don't want şat cooperation." Pointing to şe terrorist PKK and its Iranian branch PJAK, Ahmadinejad reiterated şat bilateral cooperation against şe terror groups will continue.