Saudi- Prince Miteb and Erdogan discuss regional issues

(MENAFN- Arab News)  Turkish Prime Minister Racep Tayyip Erdogan held talks in Ankara yesterday with National Guard Minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah on major regional and international issues. During the meeting, the Turkish premier underscored the strong relations between the two countries as well as the historic relations between Saudi and Turkish people. "Our relations are based on mutual respect, exchanging views and continuous contact," the premier said while expressing the two countries' desire to expand cooperation. On his part, Prince Miteb expressed his pleasure with the visit to Turkey and his meeting with the prime minister. "I am happy with the good understanding shown by the premier and his desire to strengthen bilateral relations," the Saudi minister said. Prince Miteb said such visits would have a big impact in strengthening Saudi-Turkish ties and increasing the volume of mutual trade, complimenting the shared political and economic positions held by the two countries on the regional and international levels. The talks were attended by Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz, Ibrahim Kalin, adviser to Ergodan, and Saudi Ambassador Adel Murad. At the outset of the meeting, the Saudi minister conveyed Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah's greetings to Erdogan. Prince Miteb later left Ankara after his meeting with Erdogan and was seen off at the airport by senior officials including Deputy Defense Minister Hassan Kamal Yar Deja. Miteb had met with Deja earlier in the day and discussed prospects of expanding cooperation as well as issues of mutual concern. Miteb visited Ankara on the invitation of Erdogan, the Saudi Press Agency said. In a previous statement ahead of the visit, Prince Miteb underscored the growing political, economic, military and security relations between the two countries.