Iran, Turkmenistan reach agreement on solving gas dispute
Sep 21, 2021
Gorgan, IRNA – Iranian and Turkmen presidents have agreed to solve gas dispute; the agreement has been reached between the two countries on the sidelines of the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tajikistan.
Analysts have described such an agreement as successful economic diplomacy of the new Iranian government which took office in August.
According to IRNA, the agreement has created a bright future not only for gas supply to the northern Iranian provinces, including Golestan, but also for boost in economic exchange.
In January 2018, IRNA reported that high price for the exported gas, gas cut without prior notice, and low quality of the exported gas were the issues about which Iran has complained regarding gas deal with Turkmenistan.
People in Golestan hope that the question will be solved once forever with the help of the new government.
Due to financial dispute over selling and buying gas, Iran and Turkmenistan have not had significant trade exchange during the past decades.
However, the economic diplomacy in the foreign policy, which the new Iranian government follows, led to reaching agreement on solving the gas dispute.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, in the meeting held in the Tajik capital with his Turkmen counterpart Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, said that holding regular joint economic commissions can be effective in enhancing bilateral relations.
President Raisi noted that exchange of energy and transit of goods are grounds for further cooperation.
For his part, President Berdymukhamedov expressed satisfaction over friendly relations with Iran and said he is determined to follow up regular economic commissions.
Then, he stressed that transit capacity plays a leading role in upgrading level of economic interactions.
Golestan, northern Iranian province which has land border with Turkmenistan, can play an effective role in exchanging commodities with the SCO member countries.
Before September 17, 2021, the SCO had eight members, including China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Iran which had already acted as an observer at the Organization became its permanent membership on Friday.
In a related development, a member of Iranian parliament Gholam Reza Montazeri has said that strengthening of cooperation with friendly countries will bring boost in economy and reduce international sanctions.
He went on to say that finding new markets and corridors will help bring about economic security despite unjust sanctions imposed by the enemies, the US in particular.
After solving the dispute and normalizing cooperation, good market will be created for industrial and fishery products of the province, the parliamentarian said.
Golestan Province has excellent position in producing agricultural products in Iran.
Its land border with Turkmenistan and railroad connection to the country, as well as its customs office in Incheboron, have turned Golestan into a place with great export capacities.
Source: https://en.irna.ir/news/84478398/Iran-Turkmenistan-reach-agreement-on-solving-gas-dispute