Rouhani sees opportunities for Iran to broaden cooperation with C. Asian countries following nuke deal conclusion
TEHRAN. Sept 5 (Interfax) - The conclusion of an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program opens opportunities for Tehran to broaden cooperation with the Central Asian countries, particularly Kyrgyzstan, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told journalists in commenting on negotiations with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev in Tehran on Saturday.
"The conclusion of an agreement on the Iranian nuclear file has led us to a situation where we can normalize our relations with the world, especially with the neighboring Central Asian region," Rouhani said.
Kyrgyzstan and Iran have "a lot of opportunities to broaden trade and economic cooperation," and the countries intend to develop a ten-year program to this end, he said.
"Kyrgyzstan's advantageous geographic location and its hydro-potential enable us to produce a lot of electric energy. Iran is ready to provide engineering and technical conditions for this," he added.
The generation of electricity in Kyrgyzstan would not only satisfy the country's own needs but would also enable it to export electricity to Iran, he said.
The Iranian leader also pointed to the importance of pursuing a project of building railroads and motor roads and vowed that Iran is prepared "to ensure Kyrgyzstan's access to seaports, which Kyrgyzstan could use to enter the Indian Ocean and free ports."
Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev said he had had "substantive negotiations with Hassan Rouhani" in Tehran.
"Kyrgyzstan and Iran have no disagreements and enjoy full understanding on all issues they interact on, which indicates that Kyrgyz-Iranian relations have a great future," he said.
Atambayev said Rouhani and he had thoroughly discussed the construction of a railroad to connect China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Iran and decided to consider conditions on which regular flights between Kyrgyzstan and Iran could be launched.
"We have invited the Iranian side to implement projects of constructing major power plants, as Iran has the experience in implementing similar projects in Tajikistan," he said.
Atambayev said he welcomed the conclusion of the Iran nuclear deal, "which would have been impossible without Iran's political will."
"The soonest possible lifting of sanctions from Iran would help the country to develop actively," he said.
Atambayev also pointed to the importance of Iran's involvement in the work of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and vowed that "Kyrgyzstan has a positive attitude toward Iran's intention to elevate its status in the SCO."
Iran's future membership of the organization will strengthen the common economic potential and will make its contribution to the SCO's development, he said.
Atambayev also called on Iranian business people to take advantage of the republic's membership of the EEU to pursue joint projects.
He invited President Rouhani to pay an official visit to Kyrgyzstan at any time convenient to him.