Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8
By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:
Iran's Special Envoy in Caspian Sea Affairs Ebrahim Rahimpour who is in Turkmenistan leading a high-ranking delegation said the two countries are taking steps to boost diplomatic and economic relations, Fars news agency reported on Feb. 8.
He said that during the trip, which was made following an invitation by the Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan, the Iranian delegation held talks with the country's Foreign Minister Raşit Meredow and other officials of the ministry.
Rahimpour added that Tehran and Ashgabat will soon launch a joint cooperation committee to boost mutual economic relations.
"The two countries are willing to double their current volume of trade, which stands at $3 billion, this year" the official noted.
Ha added that trade in gas was the most prominent economic topic discussed in the meetings.
Turkmenistan sits on the world's biggest natural gas reserves.
Based on a signed contract, Turkmenistan is obliged to export 40 million cubic meters of gas per day to Iran to feed the country's northern power plants.
But Iran said on Jan. 26 that it was receiving less than the agreed amount, about 28-29 million cubic meters per day.
Also, major Iranian companies are making their way to Turkmenistan in order to take over some projects which will also boost mutual relations, he said.
The Iranian official then provided comments on the achievements gained during the last summit of Caspian Sea littoral countries' leaders held last September in Astrakhan, Russia and maintained that Iran and Turkmenistan have expressed happiness with the outcome of the meeting and plan to conduct close cooperation in the next year's summit.
"In the few months to come, the two countries will have special joint programs, some of the most important of which are to launch an expert-level exhibition in Iran, a joint conference on cooperation between Iran and Turkmenistan, and a meeting by the Joint Committee of Consular Cooperation," he further said.