Iran, Tajikistan emphasize need for completion of Estaqlal Tunnel

According to IRNA, the Iranian Deputy Energy Minister for Water and Sewage Affairs Ali-Reza Da’emi initially noted at the meeting that he had inspected the completed parts of Estaqlal (Independence) Tunnel and surveyed the various dimensions of the infrastructure project in the course of past few days.



He added, 'Hundreds of successful development projects are right now underway, both in Iran and abroad by Iranian technicians and engineers and the Iranian experts will do all their best for fast completion of Esteqlal Tunnel in Tajikistan, too, despite the heaviness of the construction operations and the natural environment problems of the region.”



Ali-Reza Da’emi also referred to such obstacles as the high altitude of the tunnel, the existence of lots of water falling from the tunnel walls, the plaster texture of many parts of the tunnel walls and the freezing temperature and chill weather in the region as the most important executive problems in the way of completing the project.



He said, “These factors have made this project distinctively different from the similar projects and made the process of this tunnel's construction incomparable with the other similar ones.”



The Iranian deputy energy minister said that completion of Estaqlal Tunnel is of great significance for Tajikistan, as it connects the northern and the southern parts of the country, and for the Iranian side, as the Iranian technicians and engineers feel committed to complete their work in time.



He asked Tajikistan’s Transportations Ministry and other concerned ministries to cooperate with the infrastructure project in required fields.



Iran’s Ambassador to Tajikistan Ali-Asghar She’rdoust, too referring to the significance of Esteqlal Tunnel, said, “The construction of this tunnel continues despite the entire problems and hardships.”



Azerbaijan Republic Transportations Minister Nizom Hakimov , too, conferred with the Iranian deputy energy minster on the projects underway by Iranian sides , including the completion of Estaqlal (Inzab) Tunnel.



Iran and Tajikistan share a common history, language and culture. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union the two countries have naturally enjoyed a close relationship. As of 2011 Iran is the second largest investor in Tajikistan after China.



Iran was the first nation to establish an embassy in Dushanbe. It was also one of the first countries to extend diplomatic recognition of the newly independent Tajikistan in 1991. Iran provided diplomatic assistance and built new mosques within Tajikistan.



Due to the resurgence of Iranian culture within Tajikistan, Iran helped encourage cultural exchange through conferences, media, and film festivals. Iranian television programs, magazines, and books became increasingly common in Tajikistan.

(Courtesy: Wikipedia for the background)



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