MONGABAY.COM
Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging trends in climate, technology, economics, and finance on conservation and development (more)
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
|
|
Turkmenistan
Index
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
|
|