DUSHANBE, July 2, 2010, Asia-Plus — Iran’s Minister of Roads and Transportation Hamid Behbahani arrived in Tashkent yesterday on a three-day visit to discuss issues of mutual interest with senior officials of Uzbekistan.
According to Iranian media, the Iranian and Uzbek officials are to discuss promotion of Tehran-Tashkent cooperation on road transportation as well as customs tariffs and solving problems of Iranian truck drivers in Uzbekistan. The sides are also to exchange views on strengthening Iran-Uzbekistan cooperation in the East-West and North-South corridors.
IRNA reported that Iranian minister yesterday held talks with Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Elyor Ganiyev.
Behbahani said at the meeting that Iran attaches significance to expansion of ties with Central Asian countries. He called for expansion of bilateral ties in the fields of road, aerial and railway transportation.
Ganiyev, for his part, cited Iran as a strategic partner in the field of transportation. Given the vast potential of Iran”s road, railway and aerial transportation, he called for reduction of customs tariffs for Uzbekistan.
Behbahani is also scheduled to hold talks with Uzbek First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov, who is co-chairman of the Tajik-Uzbek commission for trade and economic cooperation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Karrobi, Counselor of the Iranian Embassy in Dushanbe told Asia-Plus Thursday afternoon that the sides are also planned to discuss transit of Tajikistan-bound freight cars via Uzbek territory.
We will recall that Iran”s state rail company last month warned Uzbekistan that it will halt the movement of all Uzbek trains across Iran unless Uzbekistan permits the unrestricted transit of freight bound for Tajikistan. According to Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, Iranian railroad official Behruz Balandi said the company sent a letter to the Uzbek state rail company asking it to expedite the passage of hundreds of Tajik freight cars that have been held up for months in Uzbekistan. Balandi said that after three weeks of negotiations the Uzbek side has finally softened its position and promised to resolve the problem as soon as possible, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reported on June 17. Uzbekistan reportedly sends at some 150 freight cars — many loaded with cotton fiber — across Iran every day.
The deputy head of Tajik Railways, Vladimir Sobkalov, told Asia-Plus on June 30 that 1,190 freight cars bound for Tajikistan are still being held up in Uzbekistan – 800 of them are bound for Dushanbe and 390 others are bound for Qurghon Teppa, the capital of Khatlon province.
