TEHRAN, May 07 (MNA) � Iran�s Javad Zarif and his Turkmen counterpart have emphasized a strong will to cooperate in extending bilateral trade and other fields of relations.


Mohammad Javad Zarif received Ra?it �wezgeldi�ewi� Meredow, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister�of Turkmenistan on Saturday in Tehran. Both sides emphasized upon a general and strong will of Iran and Turkmenistan to revive relations to new highs; �we are pleased to have plans in the future to visit Ashgabat by an invitation to Mr. Meredow; both presidents signed 27 MoUs during presidential visits to Ashgabat and Tehran which clearly indicates a strong will in part of both neighbors to extend ties,� Mr. Zarif said.

�There is a good level of trader balance; the connection of Chabahar in the extreme south of Iran to Inceburun�in Turkmenistan will drastically improve the prospects of both countries in transit of goods between north and south; in regional issues, both countries have exchanged positions about fighting terrorism and extremism,� Zarif told the meeting. ��With water bodies, two dams (to be constructed yet) will provide both countries with grounds on which to face our national needs, Friendship Dam being such notable body of water.�

Mr. Meredow for his part, also was unanimous with Zarif about the fact that both sides hailed extending bilateral ties; �in signing the MoUs, Turkmenistan seeks to guarantee the quality of bilateral trade and business; both presidents have regular coordination sessions and have contributed to improved relations,� he added. �Iran, Turkmenistan an Afghanistan could contribute to regional improvements in water and energy; I hereby propose that a trilateral commission of water and energy be established.�

Turkmen foreign minister also called for better exchange of experiences and cooperation to address and tackle drug trafficking cartels in the borders; �the railroad linking Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan to Persian Gulf reduces the transit time about 18 days and in terms of costs, it improves upon other corridors,� he concluded.

By Mehr News Agency