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Turkmenistan
Asian Neighbors
After the Russian Federation, Turkmenistan has established its
closest relations with Iran, especially on issues of joint concern
within the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO--see Glossary),
but also on issues of border security, transport cooperation,
cultural exchange, and business ventures. In 1993 the two countries
signed a joint statement emphasizing territorial sovereignty and
non-interference in Tajikistan. At the same time, Turkmenistan's
diplomats conveyed concern over the controversial agreement between
Iran and Russia to build a nuclear power plant near the Caspian
Sea and the Turkmenistan border.
In January 1994, Niyazov made an official visit to Tehran, and
the two countries held a second round of talks in Ashgabat in
June to create an intergovernmental center for consultation and
coordination on socioeconomic questions. According to bilateral
agreements, Iranian specialists will aid in renovating the Turkmenbashy
Oil Refinery and the Mary Cotton Processing Plant, building the
Turkmenistan-Iran-Europe Gas Pipeline, and constructing the Ashgabat-Tehran,
Mary- Mashhad-Turkmenbashy, and Gudurol-Gorgan highways. In January
1996, Niyazov signed agreements with Iran linking the two countries'
electric power networks, a joint dam on the Hari River, and cooperation
in oil, gas, and agriculture. A joint statement expressed concern
about Azerbaijan's exploitation of Caspian Sea resources, although
Turkmenistan generally has sided with Azerbaijan and Kazakstan,
and against Iran and Russia, on resource rights in the Caspian.
Contrary to initial expectations that Turkey would play a "big
brother" role in Turkmenistan's social and cultural development
following independence, Turkmenistan charts its own course in
such matters. An example is the adoption of a Latin script that
owes little if anything to that used for Turkish. However, Turkey
has played a prominent role in the development of Turkmenistan's
economic potential. Turkish firms are constructing US$1 billion
worth of enterprises, stores, and hotels in Turkmenistan. The
Turkish Development and Cooperation Agency manages a slate of
projects in agriculture, civil aviation, education, health care,
minerals extraction, reconstruction of infrastructure, initiation
of small enterprises, and construction of a complex of mosques
and religious schools. Turkish high schools and universities are
hosting more than 2,000 Turkmenistani students, and, in 1994,
Turkey began daily four-hour television broadcasts to the republic.
Because of continuing fragmentation of political power in neighboring
Afghanistan and concern that civil strife in that country could
threaten the security of its borders, Turkmenistan's government
pursued direct agreements with the northern Afghan leader General
Abdul Rashid Dostum, an ethnic Uzbek. With the support of Uzbekistan's
Karimov regime, Dostum had carved out an Uzbek domain controlling
600 of the 850 kilometers along the Afghan-Turkmen border. In
July 1993, President Niyazov discussed border security with officials
from northern Afghanistan, resulting in the establishment of consulates
in the Afghan cities of Mazari Sharif and Herat. Talks in 1994
focused on building a railroad link and supplying electricity
to Herat. A direct telephone communications line was completed
connecting Ashgabat and Mary with Herat.
Besides initiatives taken under the aegis of the ECO, Turkmenistan
signed a cooperation agreement with Pakistan in late 1991 and
obtained a promise of US$10 million in credit and goods from Pakistan
in 1992. The two countries signed memoranda in 1995 for the construction
of a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan.
The Bridas company of Argentina was engaged to do a feasibility
study for the pipeline.
Data as of March 1996
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