This morning the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon entered Atamurod city of Turkmenistan to take part in the ceremony of launching the construction of Turkmenistani section of Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Turkmenistan railway.

The President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai has also arrived in Turkmenistan to attend this important regional event.

The ceremony of official launching began with the demonstration of video footage on the process of construction of railways of Turkmenistan in the independence period of this country.

During the speeches of heads of states, it was in particular reminded that according to the plan the Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Turkmenistan railway should be built and commissioned in the distance of more than 400 km at the expense of over 400 million USD in 2 next years.

As it was informed, the Turkmenistani section of the railway will be constructed at the expense of Turkmenistan itself and Tajikistani and Afghanistani sections of this railroad will be erected with attraction of investments of international financial institutions.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, President of Turkmenistan, stated in particular that “this railway will not only have a great importance for our three countries but also for the whole region”.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai named the implementation of this important regional and international project “as a step towards a happier and more developed future” and added that Afghanistan will take its consistent efforts for commissioning this railway. He, referring to constructive regional policy of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, expressed confidence that “Tajikistan will also launch the construction of this railway in its territory in the nearest future”.

Head of Tajik state Emomali Rahmon stressed that “indeed we should also launch the construction of this railway as soon as possible, as this road of friendship will actively facilitate an unprecedented expansion of economic, trade and cultural ties between these three countries and the whole region”.

The construction of this railway was officially launched through unveiling the memorial board by the heads of three states and laying the first rail of this road of friendship, brotherhood and strengthening of exemplary neighborly relations between Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.