DUSHANBE, July 26, Asia-Plus – On Tuesday July 25, negotiations of official Tajik and Iranian delegations headed by the presidents of the two countries Emomali Rahmonov and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ended with signing of six bilateral documents, including a joint statement on expansion of bilateral cooperation and a series of cooperation agreements in areas such as justice, labor and social security, transport, commerce and tourism..
The sides, in particular, signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in creation of free trade zone, privileged commerce, as well as a program of cooperation in the field of tourism for the period from 2006 to 2009.
Following the ceremony of signing of the documents Emomali Rahmonov stressed that
Iran
was strategic partner of
Tajikistan
. He noted that his Iranian counterpart had confirmed his country’s intention to construct a 4.2-kilometer Chormaghzak tunnel in southern
Tajikistan
. The estimated budget for the construction of this tunnel is US$60 million and it will be constructed in parallel with Sangtuda-2 hydropower plant.
For his part, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaking to journalists noted that
Iran
and
Tajikistan
had signed 150 agreements over the past fifteen years and cooperation between the two countries has been expanding year out. He also proposed to launch a joint Persian-language television station, which would broadcast on the territories of
Iran
,
Tajikistan
and
Afghanistan
. This joint television will be dedicated to facilitate dissemination of culture of the Persian-speaking countries, according to Ahmadinejad. The Iranian president also noted that
Iran
and
Tajikistan
could establish a joint educational institution. “
Iran
is ready to provide a quota to 100 Tajik students for studying at Iranian’s higher educational institutions turning out specialists in extraction of oil and natural gas,” Mr. Ahmadinejad said.
