DUSHANBE, March 18, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The current negotiations between President Emomali Rahmon and visiting Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov will give a new impulse for further expansion of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, Suhrob Sharipov, director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, the real potential of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan has not yet been realized fully.

“Until recently, our countries were developing their relations based on old Soviet system,” the head of Tajik thin tank said, adding that mutually significant issues like expansion of energy cooperation and transportation and transit problems as well as cooperation to support establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan require new approach.  “I think the presidents are discussing development of new approaches today.”

The meeting of the presidents will give an opportunity to signing of new cooperation agreements that will promote further expansion of bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

“Economic cooperation between our countries must based on principles of pragmatism so that these relations would be mutually beneficial,” said Sharipov, “Tajikistan and Turkmenistan singed an agreement in 2007 on Turkmen electricity deliveries to Tajikistan in autumn-winter period but Uzbekistan’s withdrawal from the regional power grid cut off Tajikistan from Turkmenistan as electricity supplier because Tajikistan does not share a common border with Turkmenistan.  Therefore, Tajikistan must seek new opportunities for Turkmen electricity and natural-gas shipments.  I think the visit of the Turkmen president is a good chance to find way out of this situation.”

Tajik may also join a number of significant international projects in implementation of which Turkmenistan participates, he added.  Tajikistan could join the project for construction of a gas pipeline Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan,” said Sharipov, “If we do this, we could receive Turkmen natural gas bypassing Uzbekistan.  There are all necessary opportunities and resources for this and it is just necessary to thoroughly consider all this.”

Besides, there is also an opportunity to connect Turkmen and Tajik power systems via the territory of Afghanistan, he said.  “These projects must be fundamental principles of relations between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan,” Sharipov stressed.