( IRNA ) - Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani here Thursday stressed that holding nuclear talks in Ankara proves Iran's amicable ties with Turkey.
Larijani made the remark in a press conference also attended by the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.
Iran and Turkey are two close friends and neighboring countries, Iran's top nuclear negotiator said.
He said Turkey has played a very positive role in regional issues, adding, the country played a crucial role in release of 15 British naval forces who violated Iran's territorial waters on March 23.
Solana, for his part, said he had an important meeting with Larijani on Wednesday, adding the talks would be a prelude for the future negotiations.
He added that during talks with Larijani, the sides raised significant issues and called for settlement of Iran's nuclear case through peaceful means.
Asked about the venue of the future talks, Solana said no decision has been made about it yet.
Meanwhile, the Turkish foreign minister said settlement of issues through diplomatic channels and talks would be an important development. He expressed the hope that talks would have positive outcome.
Ankara attaches special significance to ties with Europe, Gul said stressing, in the meantime, Iran is a good neighbor of Turkey.
He further hoped that dispute over Iran's nuclear issues would be resolved through negotiations and diplomatic channels.
Turkey is always ready to carry out its duties, he added.
"The talks, itself, would bring views closer to each other. If we had no difference of opinion, we would not gather here. But we hold talks to achieve a common paradigm to resolve the case," Larijani reiterated.
We have reached conclusion on certain issues including settlement of the Iran's nuclear issue within the framework of international rules as well as the regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and those of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran's chief nuclear negotiator added.