Persian Friends

Iran continues to cultivate links among the three Persian-speaking countries:

"At the conclusion of a two-day summit in Dushanbe, the foreign ministers of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Iran signed on March 25 a joint 12-point communique pledging tripartite cooperation in the energy and transport sectors and vowing to expand economic cooperation, Avesta reported. The three hailed the meeting as an important step toward 'economic integration' and greater regional cooperation, adding that they also agreed to establish a new Dushanbe-based Persian-language television channel to broadcast in each country. Addressing reporters following the signing, Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi added that they confirmed their readiness 'to intensify economic and humanitarian cooperation,' but stressed that the trilateral summit was not directed against any third party, according to ITAR-TASS. The trilateral summit was intended to bolster new efforts at 'trilateral cooperation' and establishing a Tajik-Iranian-Afghan 'economic council' (see "RFE/RL Newsline," March 25, 2008). Iran is actively engaged in developing several hydroelectric power plants in Tajikistan and is also working to complete construction of a planned Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Iran highway."