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Elmar Mammadyarov: Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will have a strategic importance for the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan

05 December 2012 17:01 (UTC +04:00)

The minister said that after the previous meeting in this format and the defense ministers’ recent meeting two main issues – NATO mission in Afghanistan after 2014 and the withdrawal of troops from this country became a priority.

According to him, Azerbaijan, as a reliable and loyal partner of NATO, a potential operational partner in the post-ISAF mission, has allocated necessary funds to contribute to the efforts of “training, advising and assisting”.

“As regards the withdrawal of the troops from Afghanistan, 35% of the non-lethal weapons for ISAF mission were delivered through Azerbaijan. Our country has necessary infrastructure for the withdrawal of the troops, it can be increased in the future," he said.

Elmar Mammadyarov mentioned that Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia made a presentation at the North Atlantic Alliance regarding Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and sea ports and airports in Azerbaijan.

"We believe that Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway under construction and a new sea port, which is being built in Azerbaijan, will have a strategic importance for the post-withdrawal period. These projects will revive the Silk Road, historically an important element of development and welfare in the region," he said.