Iran's Ahmadinejad hails Turkey's regional role

Turkey's global stature has gained prominence due to the wise policies of its leaders and officials, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said. Such policies have placed Turkey in a position to play a very "effective" role in ensuring regional stability and security, Ahmadinejad told his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul in a phone conversation, Iran's Press TV reported on Saturday. "Of course, the intelligent people of Turkey also appreciate such policies and support their leaders' constructive plans," Ahmadinejad told Gul. He also said regional and global developments are changing in favor of Iran and Turkey, creating an excellent opportunity for Tehran and Ankara to push harder for peace and justice on a global level. For his part, Gul urged continued negotiations and collaborations between the two nations, saying that they would benefit both regional and international peace and stability. The two presidents also pledged to support each other's rights on various international platforms.