TEHRAN (FNA)- Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow pardoned 37 Iranian inmates on the occasion of Turkmenistan's Day of Neutrality Declaration.
"After the Islamic Republic of Iran's foreign ministry and embassy followed up the issue, 37 Iranian prisoners were pardoned by Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow on the occasion of the Neutrality Declaration Day in Turkmenistan which is commemorated every year on December 11," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary and Expatriates' Affairs Hassan Qashqavi said on Sunday.

Qashqavi said that the freed inmates would arrive in Iran within the next one to two days.

Iran and Turkmenistan have had official diplomatic relations since Turkmenistan's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Iran was the first nation to recognize Turkmenistan as an independent country.

The two countries have maintained good relations ever since and have cooperated in the economic, infrastructure and energy sectors.

In September, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Berdimuhamedov in a meeting in Dushanbe called for the further expansion of the two countries' relations.

During the meeting in the Tajik capital, the Iranian and Turkmen presidents explored avenues for bolstering and reinvigorating mutual cooperation.

The Iranian president pointed to the status quo of Tehran-Tashkent relations, and said, "Iran and Turkmenistan have historic and cultural relations and the two countries should do their best to enhance their trade exchanges."

He pointed to inauguration of Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway, and said, "Iran is the safest route to connect central Asia to the Persian Gulf."

The Turkmen president, for his part, welcomed development of ties with Tehran in various fields, including energy, trade and road construction.

The two heads of states also conferred on latest regional and international developments.

By Fars News Agency

 

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