Kyrgyz Transport and Communications Minister Kalykbek Sultanov discussed further cooperation with Tehran during a meeting with Iran's Ambassador to Bishkek Ali Najafi on February 22, 2013, Tazabek reported today in reference to the ministry.
In particular, issues surrounding resuming flights by Iran's national airline, as well as the possibility of a visit of an Iranian delegation led by the Minister of Transport to Bishkek were discussed during the meeting.
Ali Najafi stressed that his key priority is the strengthening of cooperation in economics, trade as well as in other fields. He outlined problems in bilateral relations and offered to hold negotiations in Kyrgyzstan or Iran to resolve issues surrounding resuming Bishkek-Tehran-Bishkek flight.
He said that the aim of cooperation is to develop land transport. Iran allocated 2,000 permits to Kyrgyzstan for transportation in 2013, he said.
Iran's airline is ready to arrive in Kyrgyzstan to discuss the resumption of Bishkek-Tehran-Bishkek flights, ambassador said.
He proposed the establishment of a joint working group to develop transit.
Sultanov stressed that current air links must be developed, rather than stopped.