Kazakhstan, Astana, 11 April /corr. Trend K.Konirova / NATO held talks with Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with regards to overland delivery of cargos to Afghanistan according to Line Communication program, NATO Secretary General's Special Representative, Robert Simmons, said on 11 April in Astana.
"We have gained positive response from the Government of Kazakhstan in this regard," said NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, Robert Simmons, at a press-conference.
NATO carries out project Line Communications envisaging transit of its cargos without any hustle via Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan through the railway which was formerly used by the Soviet Union.
Simmons said that during the NATO summit in Bucharest, exchange of correspondence was held with the Russian side, which allowed transportation of the cargos of the Alliance via Russian territory. "It is an agreement - effort to designate alternative route of cargo deliveries to our military people in Afghanistan. However, Russian borders are far from Afghanistan. Therefore, today we held talks with the Government of Kazakhstan and will hold similar talks with Uzbekistan, where we will go after our visit to Astana," NATO representative said.
According to Simmons, NATO considers three key routes of overland cargo delivery to Afghanistan. "First - via Pakistan, but as you know, the situation is unstable there. Second one - via Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The third way which is also interesting for us is the route via Caucasus - Georgia and Azerbaijan, further via Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan to Afghanistan," Simmons said. According to him, each of three routes has its own pros and cons.
In addition, selection of the route depends upon the destination in Afghanistan - to the north or east.
"If the cargos go to the north, then it is best via Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, but if cargos go to Herat in the south, then via Pakistan," Simmons added.
The Special Representative expressed his satisfaction about the co-operation of Azerbaijan in delivering NATO cargos to Afghanistan. "We have good relations with Azerbaijan, who provided its air corridor to us for the cargo delivery to Afghanistan," Simmons said.
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