Foreign

Home page

Foreign

NATO wants to withdraw military personnel, munitions and equipment from Afghanistan via Azerbaijan

05 November 2012 16:01 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov and Deputy Transport Minister Musa Panahov visited NATO Headquarters, Foreign Ministry’s press service told APA. The aim of the visit was to inform the International Security Assistance Force participants about the opportunities of transiting military personnel, munitions and equipment via Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey in connection with the end of ISAF operation in 2014.

The presentation was held by Azerbaijani, Turkish and Georgian senior officials. Detailed information was given about land, air and sea transit routes of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, existing and under-construction transport network (Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway etc.), infrastructure (international airports and sea ports), including New Baku International Sea Trade Port (Elet), it was noted that all the three countries had undertaken joint commitment to ensure relevant road that envisages future economic development of the corresponding regions and constitutes a reliable and efficient transit line in terms of politics, security and finance.

Taking into account the fact that withdrawal is very important and urgent for ISAF countries, the presentation caused great interest of NATO members and ISAF partners, the proposed transit opportunities were highly appreciated.

As a part of his visit to NATO headquarters Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov held bilateral meetings with NATO senior officials.