Azerbaijan affirms support for a stable Afghanistan
Azerbaijan unambiguously supports international efforts to
establish peace and stability in Afghanistan, Azerbaijani Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told an international conference on
Afghanistan in London on Thursday, according to a Foreign Ministry
statement seen by AssA-Irada.
Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan had joined the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) since the beginning, noting that the country doubled its contingent in the post-war country to 90 troops in 2009.
The minister said Azerbaijan has expanded its non-military engagement in Afghanistan as well. Cooperation has already started in training of the Afghani mine clearance specialists. Also, preparations are underway for the assignment of Azerbaijani military doctors to hospitals in Afghanistan; training of medical and military personnel in Azerbaijan; as well as education for Afghani students in Azerbaijan, including opportunities for attending the Azerbaijan Medical University.
Mammadyarov stressed that Azerbaijan is ready to contribute to ISAF in terms of the support for public diplomacy to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan.
"Being NATO’s partner and having geographic, historical, cultural and religious proximity to the region, Azerbaijan sees a need for a stronger support in the fields of public diplomacy to achieve security and stability in Afghanistan and has a strong will to contribute to the ISAF on this matter. As a first step, Azerbaijan suggests to host an event on NATO’s public diplomacy efforts related to the perception of the ISAF operation in and out of Afghanistan."
Mammadyarov said further that as a troop-contributor to ISAF Azerbaijan "shares the idea that the political dimension of overall efforts towards Afghanistan should be strengthened and civilian engagement should be increased. On the other hand, more Afghani ownership of the process of stabilization of the country is crucial to attaining a success. For this to happen, we should continue supporting and encouraging the government of Afghanistan to increase its efficiency and strengthen its control throughout the country."
The foreign minister said Azerbaijan provided its infrastructure for cargo shipments to Afghanistan, adding that construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will provide additional opportunities for safe and speedy transit to Afghanistan.*
Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan had joined the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) since the beginning, noting that the country doubled its contingent in the post-war country to 90 troops in 2009.
The minister said Azerbaijan has expanded its non-military engagement in Afghanistan as well. Cooperation has already started in training of the Afghani mine clearance specialists. Also, preparations are underway for the assignment of Azerbaijani military doctors to hospitals in Afghanistan; training of medical and military personnel in Azerbaijan; as well as education for Afghani students in Azerbaijan, including opportunities for attending the Azerbaijan Medical University.
Mammadyarov stressed that Azerbaijan is ready to contribute to ISAF in terms of the support for public diplomacy to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan.
"Being NATO’s partner and having geographic, historical, cultural and religious proximity to the region, Azerbaijan sees a need for a stronger support in the fields of public diplomacy to achieve security and stability in Afghanistan and has a strong will to contribute to the ISAF on this matter. As a first step, Azerbaijan suggests to host an event on NATO’s public diplomacy efforts related to the perception of the ISAF operation in and out of Afghanistan."
Mammadyarov said further that as a troop-contributor to ISAF Azerbaijan "shares the idea that the political dimension of overall efforts towards Afghanistan should be strengthened and civilian engagement should be increased. On the other hand, more Afghani ownership of the process of stabilization of the country is crucial to attaining a success. For this to happen, we should continue supporting and encouraging the government of Afghanistan to increase its efficiency and strengthen its control throughout the country."
The foreign minister said Azerbaijan provided its infrastructure for cargo shipments to Afghanistan, adding that construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will provide additional opportunities for safe and speedy transit to Afghanistan.*
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