DUSHANBE, September 5, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan and Iran signed three cooperation documents in Dushanbe on September 4.

President Emomali Rahmon and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad signed a joint statement on Sunday.  Besides, Tajikistan and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the Ministry of Energy and Industries of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Energy of Iran.  Meanwhile, an additional MoU was signed on reconstruction and completion of the Istiqlol Tunnel on the Dushanbe-Khujand highway.

Tajik and Iranian presidents met on Sunday prior to issuing a joint statement. High-ranking officials of both countries also held talks prior signing MoUs.

Speaking reporters after signing the joint statement, President Rahmon described his meeting with President Ahmadinejad as fruitful adding that the main pivot of negotiations was expansion of economic ties between Iran and Tajikistan.

Referring to the fact that Unit 2 of the Sangtuda-2 HPP will become operational by the end of current year, Tajik leader said that Tajikistan and Iran signed a contract for construction of another hydropower dam with a capacity of 130 megawatts in Tajikistan.  “This hydropower plant will allow us partially solving the problem of providing the Zarafshon Valley with electricity,” Rahmon noted.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for his part, noted that Tehran and Dushanbe have good bilateral commercial, cultural and political ties.  “By making Sangtuda-2 power plant and dam operational in Tajikistan till the end of current Iranian year, the people of Tajikistan will have access to electrical energy,” he added.

Today, President Emomali Rahmon and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will inaugurate the first unit of the Iranian-built Sangtuda-2 hydroelectric power plant (HPP) into operation.

President Ahmadinejad heading a high ranking politico-economic delegation arrived in Dushanbe yesterday.  According to IRNA, Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi, Energy Minister Majid Namjou, head of the Presidential Office Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaei and Vice-President for International Affairs Ali Saeedlou are accompanying him on his official visit to Tajikistan.