Iran, Turkmenistan study expansion of mutual cooperation

Iran, Turkmenistan study expansion of mutual cooperation

Ashkhabad, Nov 27, IRNA -- Deputy Foreign Minister for Euro-American

Affairs Ali Ahani met on Monday with Turkmen President Saparmurat

Niyazov and discussed expansion of mutual cooperation in gas transfer

and issues relating to the Caspian Sea and Afghanistan.

    Iran's special envoy on Caspian Sea affairs told IRNA that both

Iran and Turkmenistan share close views on issues relating to the

Caspian Sea.

    The Turkmen president pledged support for Iran's stance and voiced

readiness to continue his consultations at the appropriate level to

bring the views of all five littoral states closer.

    At the meeting, it was agreed that the increase in the amount of

gas exported to Iran will be followed up with the formation of a joint

expert committee thus paving the way for mutual agreement on the

issue.

  Ahani said the Turkmen president had issued necessary instructions

for the removal of obstacles to the issuance of visas for Iranian

nationals and said bilateral cooperation will continue with the

implementation of various plans.

    He said his talks with Turkmen officials also covered the Afghan

issue as well as regional cooperation.

    Iran, he said, emphasized a non-military solution to restore peace

and stability in Afghanistan and would try to pave the way for all

factions to play their role based on their status in the society.

    During his one-day visit, the Iranian envoy conferred with the

Turkmen special envoy on the Caspian Sea Boris Sheikhmoratov and the

Turkmen deputy foreign minister Kep Banov on issues of mutual

interests.

    The Iranian deputy foreign minister left Ashkhabad on Monday

night.