OREANDA-NEWS. January 08, 2010. Leaders of Turkmenistan and Iran attend ceremony of putting Dovletabat-Sarahs-Hangeran gas pipeline into operation.

On January 6, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who had arrived in our country on an official visit, attended the solemn of putting the Dovletabat-Sarahs-Hangeran gas pipeline – the second one towards Iran into operation. The Turkmen-Iranian talks held in Ashgabat a day before were a success proving the intention of the two friendly neighbouring states to develop full-scale cooperation in mutual interests. This is illustrated by signing the package of the bilateral documents aimed at fostering fruitful partnership on a wide range of fields.

On the morning President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov left the Ashgabat International Airport for the venue for the ceremony of putting the Dovletabat-Sarakhs-Hangeran pipeline into operation. Before departing the Turkmen leader held a brief meeting with the Vice Premiers, the Speaker of the Mejlis, who congratulated President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on the success of the Turkmen-Iranian top level talks and the putting into operation of the new gas pipeline towards Iran and reported on the work carried on in the subdivisions.

Commenting on the reports and giving the relevant instructions the President of Turkmenistan said that the new export route for Turkmen gas was of critical importance for further development of mutually advantageous cooperation between the two neighbouring countries and new evidence of the success and great prospects of the policy of diversification of gas pipeline infrastructure and multivariant transit of Turkmen energy to world markets.

Then the President left for Mary. The President’s plane landed at the Mary airport decorated with the national flags of the two friendly countries on the remarkable occasion.

The high-ranking officials of Mary Velayat, cabinet ministers, the elders, mullahs and people of the region heartily greeted the Turkmen leader at the airport.

Greeting those present the President had a brief conversation with local people about their everyday concerns and congratulated on the remarkable event – the putting into operation of the new Turkmen-Iranian gas pipeline. The Turkmen leader said that the Dovletabat-Sarakhs-Hangeran gas pipeline that became a symbol of the indissoluble ties of friendship and cooperation between Turkmenistan and Iran would promote the welfare of the two brotherly neighbouring nations.

The plane of President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad landed at the airport some minutes later.

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov greeted the Iranian leader at the airport.

Then the leaders of Turkmenistan and Iran flew by helicopter towards the Turkmen-Iranian border, the venue for the ceremony of putting the new gas pipeline into operation.

Numerous participants of the ceremony had gathered together in Salyr Yap village located in the territory of Sarakhs Etrap where the Sarakhs gas-measuring station – the gas pipeline terminal of the Turkmen section of the transitional line starting on Dovletabat field was built.

The helicopter with the Presidents of Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran on board landed on the special helipad nearby the gas-measuring station. The children dressed in the national costumes presented the bouquets of flowers to the leaders of two countries. The cabinet ministers, high-ranking officials of the Mejlis, ministries and departments, public organisations, mullahs, the elders heartily greeted the leaders of the two states. Among the participants of the ceremony were the heads of the diplomatic missions and representations accredited in Turkmenistan, the foreign guests including President of the Islamic Development Bank Ahmed Mohammed Ali Al-Madani, the delegation of Turkey led by Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz, foreign businessmen and journalists that evidenced intense interest of the world community in this event.

The participants greeted the leaders of the two friendly states with the storm of applause.

President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov addressed the participants and guests of the ceremony.

Greeting the honorary Iranian guest and those present the Turkmen leader expressed gratitude to President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for accepting the invitation to visit the hospitable Turkmen land.

The Turkmen leader said that construction of the Dovletabat-Sarakhs-Hangeran pipeline had been completed in a short period of time that was a result of dependable and close cooperation between the two neighbouring countries. This facility as a continuation of the ongoing Turkmen-Iranian joint projects would promote a peaceful and prosperous life of the two fraternal peoples.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that this event was a new vivid illustration of Turkmenistan’s open door policy. Evaluating highly the significance of the new pipeline in fostering international trade and economic relations and regional cooperation, the Turkmen leader emphasized that this project showed that Turkmenistan and Iran at the highest political level were oriented to mutual understanding, support and respect to the interests of their peoples.

Evaluating highly the results on the Turkmen-Iranian summit the President of Turkmenistan said that these fruitful talks demonstrated the existing profound potential to develop cooperation that both sides sought to implement in practice. In particular, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov underscored the concurrence in the views on many important aspects of international life such as security and stability in the region and the world, support for the goals of sustainable development based on mutual understanding and confidence and counteraction to threats and challenges of XXI century. The Turkmen leader stated that Turkmenistan and Iran had reaffirmed the readiness to maintain cooperation in the framework of the international organisations including the UN and the commitment to the principles of peace, equality and justice.

Emphasizing that achievement of energy security was of primary concern to the international community Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that being the full and active members of the UN Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran directly contributed to addressing this urgent problem. Both states put forward the important international initiatives and made a worthy contribution to developing and adopting the United Nations documents on energy security. The Turkmen leader said that Turkmenistan and Iran set an example of concerting efforts to address global and regional energy challenges.

Spotlighting Turkmenistan’s approach to achieving global energy security Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that seeking to transit its energy to world markets Turkmenistan abided by the invariable principles of reliable supplies to consumers on a stable and long-term basis and collaborated with its partners on the particular projects. In this aspect, the Turkmen leader underscored the international the Dovletabat-Sarakhs-Hangeran pipeline that became an integral part of the global system of stable energy transit.

Expressing gratitude to all those engaged in implementing this important gas pipeline project the President of Turkmenistan said that the new pipeline met modern science and technology requirements. This reliable gas pipeline in terms of production, safety and environment proved that the two neighbouring states had the great potential to construct this kind of complex facilities, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said.

Noting that this gas-transport route was the second gas pipeline built from Turkmenistan to Iran the Turkmen leader said that after reaching the estimated capacity the gas pipelines would supply up to 20 billion cubic metres of Turkmen natural gas to the neighbouring country.

President of Turkmenistan expressed belief that the Dovletabat-Sarakhs-Hangeran gas pipeline would give new impetus to the economic growth of the two friendly countries, and the pipelines would serve for the benefit of the Turkmen and Iranian peoples.

Noting that Turkmenistan and Iran had the longest border Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov described it as the border of peace, friendship, brotherhood and good neighbourliness.

In conclusion the leader of Turkmenistan addressed the best wishes to the diligent people of brotherly Iran.

Then President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressed the welcoming speech to all those present.

Congratulating heartily the ceremony participants on the historic event – putting the Dovletabat-Sarahs-Hangeran pipeline into operation, the leader of the neighbouring country said that in the new epoch the friendly relations between Turkmenistan and Iran based on the ancient historical and cultural ties between two nations were successfully developed and enhanced with every passing year.

Underscoring the commitment of both partner countries to mutually advantageous partnership meeting mutual interests Mahmoud Ahmadinejad mentioned the joint project on construction of the North-South railway as a bright example of this cooperation along with construction of the new gas pipeline. The Iranian leader stated that these projects symbolizing the fraternal relations between the two countries and peoples would benefit the peoples of the region as well.

Expressing sincere gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and all those engaged in constructing the new energy facility the IRI President emphasized that the commissioning of this international gas pipeline would serve the purposes of fruitful cooperation in the fuel and energy sector between the two states as well as at the regional level.

Noting that the Turkmen-Iranian top level talks had focused on the current state of bilateral relations and the important regional and international issues Mahmoud Ahmadinejad underscored with satisfaction the mutual readiness to foster constructive partnership in all fields. In this context the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran expressed belief that cooperation would be continued in transport, energy, investment sector and trade sectors.

Describing the official visit to Turkmenistan as very fruitful the honorary guest expressed his heartfelt gratitude to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for paying close attention to the Turkmen-Iranian as well as regional and international relations.

Emphasizing that the border between the two countries was the border of brotherhood and friendship Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed belief that the fruitful Turkmen-Iranian dialogue would further intensified with the blessing of God.

Congratulating President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the people of Turkmenistan on the historic event – putting the Dovletabat-Sarahs-Hangeran international gas pipeline into operation the Iranian leader expressed gratitude for the heartfelt and cordial welcome extended in the Turkmen land and wished every success to all those present.

The speeches of the Presidents of Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran were welcomed with enthusiastic applause.

The film about the major stages of the Dovletabat-Sarakhs-Hangeran gas pipeline project was demonstrated on the big monitors.

The TV bridge continued the solemn ceremony: the builders and gas industry workers of Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran reported to their leaders on the readiness of the pipeline infrastructure facilities for supply and receiving gas.

Upon concluding the video-conference to the storm of applause of the workers and specialists and numerous participants of the ceremony the leaders of Turkmenistan and Iran approached the special platform near the new gas-main pipeline.

Then Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad turned the pipeline valve pipeline and the first cubic metres of Turkmen ‘blue fuel’ run to Iran. The monitor allowed watching the gas transportation chain. It should be noted that the ceremony of putting the new gas pipeline into operation was broadcast live on the national television, and the international community had an opportunity to witness this historic event.

Thus, the Dovletabat-Sarakhs-Hangeran pipeline project became a logical continuation of Turkmenistan’s consistent policy of diversification of gas pipeline infrastructure declared by the President to be a priority of the strategy for the development of the fuel and energy sector.

Then Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad participated in a sadaqa.

The leaders of the two neighbouring countries made entries in the Book of Honorable Guests to commemorate the landmark event.

Upon concluding the sadaqa the leaders of Turkmenistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran returned to Mary.

The leaders of the two friendly nations heartily bade farewell at the airport in the administrative centre of Mary Velayat. Expressing belief that bilateral cooperation would be further successfully maintained and filled with a new concrete content every year Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad exchanged the wishes of peace and prosperity to the Turkmen and Iranian peoples.

The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran left for Tehran from the Mary airport.

In the evening the President of Turkmenistan returned to Ashgabat.