OREANDA-NEWS. January 08, 2010. Talks between Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Ashgabat.

In the afternoon on January 5 President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in the Turkmen capital on a two-day official visit.

Vice Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov and other official persons greeted the honorary guest at the Ashgabat International Airport decorated with the national flags of the two friendly states.

The President’s cortege headed from the airport to the building of the Cabinet of Ministers located in the historical city centre. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov heartily greeted the Iranian leader at the entrance to the building. The leaders of the two countries exchanged handshakes and heartfelt greetings.

Upon concluding the official greeting ceremony the President of Turkmenistan invited the IRI President to enter the building where they held the one-to-one talks.

Heartily and brotherly welcoming Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov thanked the honorary guest for accepting the invitation to pay an official visit to Ashgabat and attend the ceremony of putting the Dovletabat-Sarahs-Hangeran pipeline into operation that would become a new symbol of unbreakable friendship and mutually advantageous cooperation between the two fraternal peoples.

Thanking cordially Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for the heartfelt welcome extended in the Turkmen land and hospitality, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in his turn, emphasized that he was always glad to meet with the Turkmen leader that had won the image of an outstanding statesman and reformer of modern times. Focusing with satisfaction on the highly dynamical development of intergovernmental relationships maintained over the past years, the leader of Iran expressed belief this summit would mark an important step to intensify the sincere, good neighbourly dialogue firmly based on centuries-old friendship between the two brotherly peoples.

In the friendly atmosphere Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad discussed the prospects for Turkmen-Iranian cooperation, specified the fields for further partnership that had proven its significance and topicality. Discussing the progress in implementing the agreements the sides were unanimous that by initiating and completing the large-scale joint projects bringing the progress and prosperity to the region Turkmenistan and Iran expressed the mutual determination to bring the traditional cooperation built on a long-term equitable basis up to a qualitatively new level.

Then the talks were continued with the participation of the government delegations in the presence of numerous journalists.

The Turkmen leader thanked his Iranian counterpart for accepting the invitation to pay an official visit to Turkmenistan. Taking an opportunity Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude to the leader of the neighbouring country for the heartfelt welcome extended during his official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran last February and the visit to Tehran to participate in the 10th anniversary Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) last spring.

The President of Turkmenistan said that these top-level talks became a landmark in the relations between the two peoples, who aspired for peace, prosperity and progress. Touching upon the results of the one-to-one talks Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov focused with satisfaction on a positive impact of the bilateral agreements reached during the meetings in Ashgabat and Tehran. Underscored a complete understanding and coincidence of views on the topical international and regional issues the Turkmen leader expressed gratitude to the Iranian partners and first of all President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for supporting the neutral political strategy and international initiatives of Turkmenistan. Our country, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said, would further close cooperation to ensure in ensuring peace, security and sustainable development in the framework of the authoritative international organisations, in particular the UN.

Putting emphasis on the important role of the traditional meetings and exchange of views at different levels and the constructive activities of the ministries and departments in fostering the intergovernmental dialogue, the Turkmen leader reiterated the intention to expand this cooperation on a programme basis. In this regard, the President characterized trade and economic relations and implementation of mutually advantageous large-scale projects in various sectors as the priorities of the Turkmen-Iranian cooperation. Emphasizing that many facilities that constantly increased in number had been jointly built and put into operation the Turkmen leader mentioned the Tejan-Sarakhs-Mashad Korpeje-Kurtkuyi railway, the Dostluk water storage reservoirs and other industrial facilities and constructions that served the interests of the two neighbouring states as well as the countries of the region. In this context Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that to date 144 enterprises with the share of the Iranian capital had been registered in Turkmenistan. The economic exhibitions and forums such as the specialized exhibitions of the Islamic Republic of Iran organized in Ashgabat on a regular basis played an important role in promoting effective cooperation.

That Iran ranked among Turkmenistan’s largest economic partners was proved by the steadily increasing turnover of commodities that had recently risen over 1.5 times and had every requisite for further intensive growth. The President of Turkmenistan noted that was vividly illustrated by the completion of the large-scale Dovletabat-Sarakhs-Hangeran pipeline project of paramount importance for both countries. Emphasizing that Turkmenistan’s energy policy was aimed at developing wide mutually advantageous cooperation with the neighbouring countries first of all, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov underscored the importance of achieving energy security at the regional and global levels as an integral factor for global security and sustainable development. In this regard the Turkmen leader expressed sincere gratitude to Iran for co-authoring the Resolution on the Reliable and Stable Transit of Energy and Its Role in Ensuring Sustainable Development and International Cooperation adopted by the UN on the initiative of Turkmenistan. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed belief that Turkmenistan and Iran would continue effective cooperation in the energy sector.

The leader of the Turkmen state that the work of the joint Turkmen-Iranian intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation contributed to further dynamic development of partnership in the particular fields specifying light, processing and construction industries, machine building, agriculture, transport and communications as the promising fields of collaboration. In this context Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov underscored the importance of the project on construction of the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway that would be the most convenient trade route from Europe southwards to the Persian Gulf.

Focusing on the need to strengthen and develop the traditional humanitarian dialogue between the two nations that were bound with the centuries-old historical and cultural affinities the Turkmen leader called for further conducing joint art forums, expanding contacts between scientists, workers of culture and art of Turkmenistan and Iran.

In conclusion Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed the wishes of great in his important work at the highest post to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and peace, happiness and prosperity to the brotherly people of Iran.

Then the floor was given to the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Thanking for the heartfelt welcome extended in the Turkmen land Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that he was glad to visit Turkmenistan again and had a meeting with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Thanking the Turkmen leader for the informative speech the President of the friendly country said that Iran fully supported all the proposals put forward during the meeting in compliance with Iran’s plans and intentions.

Highly evaluating the prospects of Turkmen-Iranian cooperation that was expanded with every passing day and built on the solid foundation of the historical and cultural affinities Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed belief that traditional partnership would be intensified further in mutual interests.

“We rejoice very much at the progress gained by independent neutral Turkmenistan,” the Iranian leader said focusing on the existing vast opportunities for strengthening and expanding trade and economic relations. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that to date bilateral turnover of commodities made up USD 3 billion and there were every requisite and conditions to increase it up to USD 10 billion a year within the next five years. A major role in fulfilling the designated tasks was assigned to the large-scale joint projects, in particular the North-South transport corridor – the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway.

The President of Iran stated that the documents to be signed upon concluding the talks would directly contribute to the early implementation of the proposed joint projects for the benefit of the peoples of Turkmenistan and Iran as well as the entire region. In this regard the Iranian leader expressed full support for Turkmenistan’s policy of neutrality that stood as an essential factor for peace and stability.

In conclusion President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad thanked the Turkmen partners for their readiness to establish a full-scale dialogue and stated that Iran was greatly interested in intensifying bilateral cooperation in all key fields.

Upon concluding the Turkmen-Iranian talks President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received President of the Islamic Development Bank Ahmed Mohammed Ali Al-Madani, who had specially arrived in Ashgabat to attend the ceremony of signing the agreements on the investments projects to be implemented in Turkmenistan. Thanking for hospitality the honorary guest emphasized that he was glad to visit again Turkmenistan that was resolutely moving forward along the path of progress and sustainable development. Evaluating highly the dynamic economic growth of the Turkmen state that had gained the reputation of a dependable international partner Ahmad Mohamed Ali Al-Madani said that the IDB was increasingly interested in expanding on the promising Turkmen market and intensifying fruitful and mutually advantageous cooperation.

Greeting cordially the honorary guest the Turkmen leader expressed profound gratitude for such a businesslike and constructive approach to building cooperation and the intention of the largest and most authoritative bank in the world to contribute to implementing the investment projects in Turkmenistan. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Turkmenistan was always ready to build relationships on openness and mutual respect reiterating Turkmenistan’s commitment to the mutually beneficial dialogue with the Islamic Development Bank that it partnered with in the important projects of national and regional significance.

Then President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and President of the Islamic Development Bank Ahmed Mohammed Ali Al-Madani held the talks.

The guests highly evaluated Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s wise and prudent foreign policy that had won Turkmenistan the high prestige on the world arena and the fundamental reforms initiated by the Turkmen leader to foster sustainable economic growth in the country.

The trilateral meeting focused on the aspects of further collaboration and the sides were unanimous that the bilateral Turkmen-Iranian documents to be signed in the Turkmen capital including the Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the IDB would contribute expanding and interacting traditional economic partnership in common interests.

The ceremony of signing the documents that would lay the reliable foundation for further enhancing traditional fruitful cooperation took place in the Big Hall.

The Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in cultural heritage between the Ministry of Culture and Broadcasting of Turkmenistan and the Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organisation, the Programme of Cooperation for the year 2010 between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on cooperation on one-sided aerial survey, the contract between the Ministry of Railway Transport of Turkmenistan and the Pars Energy Company (Iran), the Istisna’a Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Islamic Development Bank on the financing of the project on design and construction site of the Bereket-Etrek section of the Gyzylgayya-Bereket-Etrek railway and the Agency Agreement between the Government of Turkmenistan and the Islamic Development Bank for the execution of the Istisna’a Agreement were signed in the presence of the leaders of Turkmenistan and Iran.

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran put their signatures to the Joint Communique to the storm of applause of those present.

Upon concluding the signing ceremony the leaders of Turkmenistan and Iran held a press conference.

Addressing the journalists of the national and foreign news agencies the President of Turkmenistan highly evaluated the constructive nature of the talks and the traditionally atmosphere of mutual understanding, confidence and respect inherent in the Turkmen-Iranian relations. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stated that the sides had exchanged views on the important aspects of mutual cooperation that by common opinion had been recently filled with a qualitatively new content.

Focusing with satisfaction on the coincidence of views on the issues of international politics and regional relationships of mutual interest particularly relating to achieving global peace and security, concerting efforts to address modern challenges, the Turkmen leader reaffirmed the readiness to continue work in this field in both bilateral and regional formats as well as in the framework of the authoritative international organisations, primarily the UN.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the Presidents had agreed to hold the top level talks on a regular basis and contribute in every way possible to creating the conditions conducive to further development of the good neighbourly relations between the two countries.

Expressing belief that the Ashgabat summit would promote the friendly Turkmen-Iranian dialogue, the Turkmen leader put emphasis on the successful implementation of the large-scale joint social and economic projects. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov characterized the outing into operation of the Dovletabat-Sarakhs-Hangeran pipeline that would enable to increase natural gas exports from Turkmenistan to neighbouring Iran as an important event in this context.

Mutually advantageous energy cooperation, the President of Turkmenistan emphasized, complemented bilateral trade and economic relations and made them even more grandiose. In this regard the meeting focused on the prospects for expanding Turkmen-Iranian partnership oil and gas and power industries, transport and communications and the humanitarian sphere.

Stating that the share of Turkmen-Iranian trade turnover had risen over 1.5 times in the volume of Turkmenistan’s foreign trade and made up about USD 3 billion, the Turkmen leader put emphasis on the existing opportunities to expand cooperation in this field. Evaluating highly the important role that Turkmenistan and Iran played in developing regional transit and transport cooperation, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov informed that the sides had reached the agreement to accelerate construction of the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway.

The Turkmen leader noted that an integral component of the Turkmen-Iranian relations was traditional humanitarian cooperation based on the centuries-old historical and cultural affinities of the two peoples. In this regard the President of Turkmenistan underscored the need to further expand cooperation in the spheres of science, art and culture through conducting joint activities and art forums as well.

Stating that the Ashgabat summit had achieved the goals designated Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov thanked cordially his Iranian counterpart for accepting the invitation to pay an official visit to Turkmenistan and expressed the wishes of happiness, wellbeing, peace and prosperity to the brotherly people of Iran.

Then President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took the floor and said that it gave him and the members of the Iranian government delegation great pleasure to visit the hospitable Turkmen land again.

Touching upon the outcomes of the talks the Iranian leader said that it had focused on a wide range of the aspects of Turkmen-Iranian cooperation as well as some regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the sides had reiterated the similarity of the approaches to the key aspects of collaboration in the bilateral and multilateral formats, in particular in the framework of the large international organisations.

Underscoring with satisfaction the coincidence of views on urgent problems and challenges of the modern world, the honorary guest said that Iran fully supported the progressive policies of the Turkmen leader leading, who was leading his people along the road of wellbeing and progress.

Focusing on the bilateral relations the President of Iran emphasized that this meeting had added a new page in the history of the Turkmen-Iranian dialogue and there were every requisite and necessary conditions to enhance it.

We believe, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad concluded, that Turkmen-Iranian cooperation had the wonderful future that was evidenced by two events, which would go down in history forever – construction of the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway and the Dovletabat-Sarahs-Hangeran pipeline. The Iranian leader said that these new projects, which became the symbols of fruitful Turkmen-Iranian cooperation, would further enhance the brotherly friendly relations that bound the two neighboring peoples from times immemorial and expand trade and economic ties between the two countries. Confirming Iran’s readiness to intensify cooperation in all key fields including the fuel and energy sector, transport, agriculture, culture, investment sector, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed belief that the agreements reached during the Ashgabat summit would promote traditional cooperation that was characterized by reliability, mutual confidence and respect. Underscoring the effectiveness of top level talks, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said it he was very pleased the President of Turkmenistan accepted the invitation to visit Iran at any convenient time.

Upon concluding the press conference President of Turkmenistan bade heartfelt farewell to the honorary guest. Thanking Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for the cordial welcome and personal attention to the issues of intergovernmental cooperation, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed the wishes of happiness, peace and wellbeing to the fraternal people of Turkmenistan.

From the Cabinet of Ministers building the Iranian leader’s cortege headed for the National Park of Independence where a bouquet of flowers was laid to the grandiose memorial complex – the Monument of Independence standing as a symbol of the modern history on behalf of the President of Iran.

In the evening an official dinner was given in honor of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.