Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is on a three-day visit to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
The visits are "a step forward in implementing our designated plans," Ramin Mehman Parast, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, told the Fars news agency on January 3.
Ahmadinejad and Tajik President Imomali Rahmon signed a joint statement promoting bilateral relations. Iran will also allocate $6 million for the completion of the Anzob tunnel project. Rahmon, meanwhile, expressed support for Iran's nuclear program.
On January 5, Ahmadinejad is scheduled to arrive in Turkmenistan for meetings with President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Oil Minister Massoud Mir-Kazemi, Minister of Road and Transportation Hamid Behbahani are also participating in the two-nation tour. In Turkmenistan, Ahmadinejad is scheduled to attend opening ceremonies for a second gas pipeline connecting the two countries.
