Turkmenistan, a Natural Partner for Iran
By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer
The Islamic Republic’s “neighbours first” friendly and fraternal policy has this time drawn to Tehran the head of another Central Asian state, sharing a common faith, culture, history, and of course, future, in view of the 1,148 km long joint Iran-Turkmenistan border that warrants upgrading of ties in all fields.
President Serdar Berdi-Muhammadov’s trip to Iran comes a fortnight after President Imom Ali Rahman’s visit that had resulted in the signing of 17 strategic accords.
At least a dozen MOUs have been signed by Tehran and Ashqabad in a wide variety of fields such as politics, economy, trade, transportation, investment, new technologies, environment, sports, energy, judiciary, education, research, and tourism, making Iran the second biggest strategic partner of Turkmenistan after Russia.
Iran and Turkmenistan are expected to ink a 20-year accord of cooperation which would give a great boost to bilateral relations and positively affect regional and international developments.
The Junior Berdi-Muhammadov who succeeded his ailing father Qurban-Quli last March, was granted audience by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who pointed out that expanding and deepening relations between the two neighbours is absolutely to the benefit of both countries,
Turkmenistan is keen strengthen relations with Iran in various fields, especially gas, electricity, and transportation of goods.
Last week the Turkmen president was in Moscow where he signed 15 strategic agreements with his Russian counterpart.
Both Russia and Turkmenistan, along with Iran, are members of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), also have extensive coastlines on the world’s largest inland sea, the Caspian, whose two other littoral states are Kazakhstan and the Caucasus Republic of Azerbaijan.
These factors warrant the countries of the region to consolidate their ties, especially in view of the devilish designs of the US and its accomplices in western Europe, to disturb peace by resorting to the policy of economic-political terrorism through sanctions.
Iran’s strategic geopolitical location is indeed a blessing for the Asian continent, in particular the landlocked countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus for the safest and most economical route to international waters.
In addition, as neighbours of crisis-torn Afghanistan, both Iran and Turkmenistan are wary of the instability in that country where terrorist outfits, such as Daesh, are following American orders to spread their destabilization of Central Asia.