Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5
Trend:
As a country which itself strongly suffered from the 25 years of unresolved conflict, Azerbaijan full-heartedly understands Afghanistan’s problems, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
Mammadyarov made the remarks Oct. 5 at the EU Conference on Afghanistan in Brussels, Belgium.
“We all have to extend to Afghanistan our support in all their endeavors and challenges,” he said.
Azerbaijan is among probably the first, closest, and most active supporters of Afghanistan to this end, noted the minister.
“We do it mostly bilaterally through the constant talks and meeting with Afghan authorities, but also through other international platforms, including at NATO,” he added.
“We continue providing substantial training for Afghan security personnel, government employees, de-mining and other activities, including education,” said Mammadyarov. “Less than a month ago, President Aliyev approved Azerbaijan-Afghanistan agreement on a multimillion assistance mostly in security area. Its implementation is already underway.”
“Our troops serve at the Resolute Support Mission and we rend financial assistance to Afghan Army through the NATO Trust Fund,” noted the minister. “My country is a major transit route for international operations in Afghanistan and at some point more than 30 percent of entire transit for ISAF was via Azerbaijan.”
He added that Azerbaijan has always championed beefing up security efforts with economic development.
“Reviving ancient Silk Road can do exactly that,” he said. “Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey are completing Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad, which in conjunction with a new international seaport near Baku and involvement of Central Asian countries will put Afghanistan right in the middle of the transit link between Far East and North Europe.”
Azerbaijan is committed to continue its full support to Afghan-led state and institution building as it is clearly indicated in the final communiqué of our today’s conference, added Mammadyarov.