Turkmen-Iranian top level talks held in Tehran

Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Aug. 31 / Trend H. Hasanov / Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad within the participation in the 16th Summit of Heads of States and Governments of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Tehran, the Turkmen government said on Friday. The two sides discussed the urgent international issues of common interest, as well as the prospects for economic cooperation between Turkmenistan and Iran. "The leaders of the two countries Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were unanimous in the opinion that the current level of bilateral relations allows Turkmenistan and Iran effectively implementing bilateral agreements, forming new directions of long successful cooperation," the report says. Such spheres as trade, fuel and energy complex, construction, agriculture, transport, tourism and others are among the prospective spheres. The Presidents expressed mutual confidence that the recent constructive cooperation will be enhanced by the new large-scale joint interstate and regional projects," newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan said today. At this stage, the two countries with Kazakhstan's participation implement North-South major joint railway project. The road is being laid and financially supported by the Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank. Turkmenistan jointly with Iran implemented a number of large scale projects such as the construction of a water reservoir at Dostluk, the Tejan-Sarahs-Mashhad railway, interstate pipelines and power lines. At this stage, the two countries with the participation of Kazakhstan are implementing the joint North-South rail project. Lining the road is funded by the Asian Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank. Turkmenistan and Iran have been regularly negotiating to increase the energy supply. Iran imports electric power and assists in its transit to Turkey. The Korpedje-Gurtguyy gas pipeline which originates from the western fields of the country was commissioned in December 1995. Its capacity today has been brought up to eight billion cubic meters per year. There is potential to increase the pipeline's capacity to 14 billion cubic meters. Since the end of December 2009 the neighbouring countries have opened additional facilities. The Dovletabad-Sarahs gas pipeline with a capacity of up to six billion cubic meters per year was constructed from the Iranian border to the east of Turkmenistan. There is potential to double the capacity of the pipeline. The main buyer of Turkmen gas is the National Iranian Gas Export Company. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az