Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said in a statement issued by Iranian Embassy in Ankara that maintaining territorial integrity of Syria and Turkey are the prerequisites to establishment of calm in the region.
"Maintaining territorial integrity of both Syria and Turkey is the first prerequisite for establishing peace in the Middle East region," Amir Abdollahian said.
"The security of the region depends on controlling the borders of Syria's neighbors and in the Cairo and New York talks this has been highlighted," the diplomat added.
Turkey and Syria fired artillery and mortars across their border for a fifth consecutive day on Sunday.
On Wednesday, a mortar hit the border town of Akcakale in Southern Turkey.
It was not clear who fired the mortar into Turkey, but security sources said it had come from near Tel Abyad and that Turkey was increasing the number of troops along its border.
Syria said it was investigating the source of the mortar bomb and urged restraint. Information Minister Omran Zoabi conveyed his condolences to the Turkish people, saying his country respected the sovereignty of neighboring countries.
Since the beginning of unrests in Syria in March 2011, Turkey has tried hard to intensify the crisis in Syria by training terrorists and sending weapons to the Arab country. Such behavior resulted in further problems for the government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in its relations with its neighbors.
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Iran called on the Turkish and Syrian governments to exercise self-restraint and remain calm after recent border skirmishes between the two neighboring countries.
News ID 182974
