DUSHANBE, May 14, 2010, Asia-Plus – Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said here on Thursday that defense agreements with Tajikistan will further consolidate bilateral defense cooperation, Iran’s news agency IRNA reported.
During a meeting with his Tajik counterpart, Colonel-General Sherali Khairulloyev, he added that Tehran-Dushanbe political and defense ties are at an excellent level and regular talks between the two countries’ defense officials will further strengthen them.
Iran-Tajikistan defense ties will contribute to regional peace and security, he said, hoping that this peace and security will further develop.
Numerous commonalities between Iran and Tajikistan will help bolster bilateral relations, Vahidi said.
Tajik Defense Minister Colonel General Sherali Khairulloyev, for his part said that his country is ready to broaden its cooperation with Iran in the field of defense.
“We believe that Iran and Tajikistan are a single nation and development of defense relations will benefit both nations,” he noted.
Vahidi arrived in Dushanbe for a two-day visit on Wednesday night at the head of a high-ranking delegation. He is also scheduled to confer with Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi and Majlisi Milli (Tajikistan’s upper chamber of parliament) Speaker Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloyev.
