National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov gave an interview to journalist Seyyed Mohsen Hosseini of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) during his visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. In the interview, Berdimuhamedov shared his views on his longstanding relationship with the late Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, Turkmen-Iranian cooperation and Turkmenistan's peace-oriented foreign policy, Turkmen state media reported on Monday.

Responding to a question about his first meeting with Iran's late Supreme Leader and the significance of their discussions, Berdimuhamedov said the Turkmen people have always attached great importance to relations of friendship and brotherhood, adding that Turkmenistan and Iran are neighboring brotherly states founded on mutual respect. He noted that his first meeting with Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei took place in 1998 and had the opportunity to meet the Supreme Leader on several occasions while serving in various state positions. According to Berdimuhamedov, those meetings contributed to the development of political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation and produced significant results for the benefit of both countries.

Speaking about memorable moments with the Supreme Leader, Berdimuhamedov recalled that Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei would often say: "You are not only our neighbors, you are our blood relatives." According to the Turkmen National Leader, every meeting was important and focused not only on the interests of the two countries but also on the prosperity and peace of the region and the world. He noted that Turkmenistan is the only permanently neutral state whose neutrality has been recognized three times by the United Nations and said he and the Supreme Leader also held extensive discussions on peace and sustainable development.

Berdimuhamedov said that among both the Turkmen and Iranian peoples, building roads and bridges is regarded as a means of bringing people closer together, noting that Turkmenistan and Iran have jointly built several highways, railways and bridges. He also recalled the Supreme Leader's words: "The wisdom of roads lies in bringing peoples together."

Addressing the results of bilateral trade and economic cooperation, Berdimuhamedov said that while serving as head of state, gas pipelines, power transmission lines, railways and highways were constructed. He also noted that bilateral trade exceeded $5 billion during the years of their joint efforts. The Turkmen National Leader said the border between Turkmenistan and Iran stretches for more than 1,500 kilometers and recalled that the Supreme Leader always referred to it as a "border of friendship and brotherhood."

Speaking about the historical and cultural values uniting the peoples of Turkmenistan and Iran, Berdimuhamedov said he and the Supreme Leader frequently exchanged views on trade and economic relations as well as their shared cultural and historical roots. He added that they also discussed drawing lessons from history and instilling moral values in future generations.

According to the National Leader of the Turkmen People, Turkmenistan maintains ties with Iranian scholars, poets and writers. He noted that Turkmenistan has an institute of manuscripts and emphasized the importance of studying the country's historical heritage. Berdimuhamedov also said that more than 3 million Turkmens currently live in Iran's Golestan Province and added that he and the Supreme Leader had often discussed strengthening friendship and brotherhood between the Turkmen and Iranian peoples.

Berdimuhamedov also highlighted that the tomb of the prominent Turkmen poet and philosopher Magtymguly Pyragy is located in Iran. According to him, this provides the Turkmen people with an important opportunity to make pilgrimages to Iran. He added that both peoples jointly preserve the great poet's memory and honor his literary legacy.

Responding to a question about the increasingly complex situation in the world, Berdimuhamedov referred to the Turkmen proverb "Judgment Day begins with your neighbor", saying that Turkmenistan kept its borders open and delivered humanitarian aid during difficult times. He said Turkmenistan pursues an Open Doors policy and remains a permanently Neutral state, recognized three times by the United Nations, guided by the principles of balance, equality, prosperity and peace. Commenting on current conflicts, Berdimuhamedov said: "There is nothing honorable about war. A fired bullet does not distinguish whether its target is a child or a soldier."

Источник: business.com.tm