Azernews.Az

BAKU – Azerbaijan is ready to further contribute to stability in Afghanistan, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at an international conference on Afghanistan in Istanbul.

Mammadyarov spoke about the work undertaken by Azerbaijan to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan. Minister said that Azerbaijan joined the international peacekeeping forces in 2002, doubled the number of the servicemen in Afghanistan in 2009. "Azerbaijan has also made contribution to the non-military sector," he said.

Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan is very important transit place because of its geographic location and transport infrastructure and it makes large contribution to commercial shipment to Afghanistan. The minister said Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway would intensify and regulate quick and secure cargo transportation and under-construction sea port was also expected to increase volume of shipment to Afghanistan.

The minister said his country was interested in sustainable development of Afghan economy and Azerbaijan was ready to review possible proposals by the Afghan government in this field. He said Azerbaijan had great experience in production of natural resources and it expressed willingness to contribute to positive development in this field if Afghan side had concrete projects.

Mammadyarov emphasized the importance of regional and international approach to the Afghan problem and necessity of joint efforts by the international community to eliminate this problem and support the efforts of the Afghan government on security, economic development and welfare of the people.

Prior to the opening of the conference, Mammadyarov met Turkey`s Foreign Minister Ahmad Davudoglu. The meeting focused on the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, bilateral elations and regional issues.