“Iran and Tajikistan Interact Efficiently in Water Issues,” Says Ambassador.

Iranian and Tajik officials explored avenues for expanding economic, trade and cultural interactions between the two countries, AVA Diplomatic reports

The discussions were made in a meeting between Iranian Ambassador to Dushanbe and Saqad province’s Governor-General on Saturday.

During the meeting, Faqani noted that the two countries enjoy good capacities to cooperate in economic, trade, energy, water, mine exploitation, educational and cultural fields, and stressed Tehran’s preparedness to the development of interactions in all fields desired by the Tajik side.

He also expressed pleasure in the enhancement of the level of economic relations between Iran and Tajikistan in the past year, and said the two countries’ provinces play an important role in this regard.

In September, Iran’s President and his Tajik counterpart in a meeting in Tajikistan signed 10 cooperation pacts and a joint statement.

The cooperation pacts signed by the Iranian and Tajik presidents in Dushanbe included security agreements between the two countries’ interior ministries, an agreement on fighting drug trafficking and a cooperation pact between Iranian and Tajik chambers of commerce as well as an MOU between Iran’s Persian Language Academy and Tajikistan’s Language and Reforms Committee.

Also late February, Iran and Tajikistan voiced their interest in the further promotion of all-out relations, especially in cultural fields.

Speaking in a meeting with Tajik Head of Central Library Abdul Ghaffar Mollayev in Khojand, Iran’s Cultural Attaché Masoud Ahmadvand to Tajikistan cited maintenance skills, copying of manuscripts, codicology and data banks as possible areas of mutual cooperation.

He also expressed his country’s willingness to hold workshops and training courses for Tajik library experts.

For his part, Mollayev underlined his country’s enthusiasm for the further cooperation between libraries and voiced his staff’s interest in visiting major Iranian libraries.

Also, Iran’s Minister of Energy Hamid Chitchian said in Tehran on June 2 that Iran is ready for active contribution to implementation of the water and electricity projects in Tajikistan.

During a meeting with Tajik Ambassador to Iran, Nematullah Emomzoda, in Tehran, Chitchian reportedly said on June 2 that said Tajikistan initiative for holding high level International Conference on the Implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015, (June 9-11) is a very good move and Iran supports Tajikistan role in this important international issue.

On the same issue, A Tajik official demands Iranian Sunir firm to cooperate in Tajikistan energy sector.

During a meeting with Sunir (Iran Power & Water Equipment & Service Export Company) senior officials, Nezami, Tajikistan ambassador’s consultant to Tehran called Iranian firm to cooperate with Tajikistan energy sector.

He underlined Tajik senior officials willing to implement the water and electricity projects in the countries, saying that eastern part of the country is suitable for building an electricity power plant.

Elsewhere in this meeting, Sunir Manager Director welcomed the Tajik side proposal, adding that together with 21 shareholders the firm will be able to provide the country with the technical equipment and engineering services.

Noting two decades of activities in energy industries, Salehi highlighted the 200 projects implemented by the firm across the region.

Referring to the firm’s current projects in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Oman, Iraqi Kurdistan, Armenia, Sri Lanka and Ethiopia, he also pointed to the existence of natural resources such as coal and water in Tajikistan.

He said he will attend as the envoy of Iran president to the meeting and hoped that the conference and the meetings, to be held on the sidelines, will help reach a conclusion on mutually concerned problems.

Referring to lingual and cultural as well as religious commonalties of Iran and Tajikistan, he said the feeling of proximity will further pave the ground for mutual ties.

The Tajik ambassador made a remark about an “International Decade of Water for Life” and stated, “This concept is to unify the countries and countries on local, national, regional and international levels should accept to take proper measures to accomplish their water-preserving purposes.”

In response to a question from a reporter on the water cooperation between Iran and Tajikistan, the envoy said, “considering the water problems in Iran and the fact that nearly 60% of the region’s water springs from Tajikistan, some effective measures can be taken and I should maintain that Iran and Tajikistan have well-tailored ties in water issues. There might be some transfer trouble in terms of water resources, but nothing to worry about and not workable. We have worked on some of them thus far.”

In response to another question on investments in water transfer from Tajikistan, the ambassador underlined, “The water discussion went on between the two Presidents. Shamim Kowsar Institution is after paving the way for making possible the investments in water transfer from Tajikistan to Iran and we hope to hear all proposals that can help this process expedite from Iran.”

Regarding the water transfer to other countries rather than Iran, Tajikistan’s ambassador added, “Our water transfer is open to anyone who needs it. We never refuse to collaborate.” “Iran is an important partner to Tajikistan who recognized us initially and supported our independence. It has also established one of the important dams in Tajikistan and has further agricultural and investment activities there,” stated the diplomat.