Professor Mehmet Seyfettin Erol: “Turkmenistan – the heart of the Great silk Road” policy, based on the history and future oriented
Ankara Center for Crisis and Policy Studies published an article on Turkmenistan's transport policy aimed at the revival of the Great Silk Road. "Situated between Central Asia and Iran, Turkmenistan has a noteworthy strategic position. In other words, Turkmenistan is Iran’s gateway to Central Asia as well as a portal for Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan into the Caspian Sea", writes the author of the publication Professor Dr. Mehmet Seyfettin Erol. In this context, Turkmenistan's railway projects are essential for the development of international trade. One of such projects, successfully implemented, is the railway corridor Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran with a capacity of up to 12 million tons of cargo. This route is vital for Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in accessing international waters. Likewise, it connects Iran with Central Asia, Russia and more importantly Europe. It is critical to conceive that the “China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran Railway” is part of the “Road-Belt Initiative” announced by Beijing in 2013. In this sense, Turkmenistan constitutes the southern route of this project. Therefore, Beijing postulates Turkmenistan as a strategic partner. According to author’s opinion, the steel highway Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran provides a favorable route for the transportation of goods from China. The railway links broadened between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan can be evaluated as Ashgabat’s New Silk Road policy. Thus, the steel line leading from Serhetabad to Torghundi will be continued to Herat, the principal city in North-Western Afghanistan will be connected to Central Asian rail lines and have access to the Caspian Sea via Turkmenistan. The second rail line connects the city of Aqina in Faryab province of Afghanistan with the city of Kerki (Atamyrat) via Imamnazar of Turkmenistan. The line which was inaugurated in 2016 will become a branch of the Northern Railway Line — which passes through Andkhoy — once the Herat – Mazar-i Sharif line is completed. These projects are concrete examples of Ashgabat’s resolve on regional stability, the author notes. Turkmenistan has utilized its strategic position subtlety for economic development. With the visionary policies of President Berdymuhamedov, Turkmenistan is being transformed into a hub for regional trade and transportation, concluded Professor Seyfettin Erol. When Ashgabat’s New Silk Road policy is assessed, it clearly confers with centuries-old Turkoman history. As a matter of fact, the cities of Nisa, Konye-Urgench and Merv which are located within Turkmenistan had been centres for international trade in ancient times. In this respect, we can say that the project “Turkmenistan - the Heart of the Great Silk Road” which the Turkmen administration pursues on the historical basis and for the future, will further advance the international reputation of Ashgabat.
