Assistant Secretary of State on Role of Baku in Reconstruction of Afghanistan

Baku / 29.06.18 / Turan: Azerbaijan plays a significant role in the process of economic integration of Afghanistan in the region. This was stated today at a press conference in Baku by the First Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Alice Wells.

The International Contact Group on Afghanistan includes more than 50 states. The purpose of this initiative is to assist the peace process in Afghanistan and the efforts of President Ashraf Ghani in this direction.

It was this opinion that was expressed in Baku by the Contact Group members, Wells noted.

Concerning the role of Azerbaijan in supporting Afghanistan, she noted the importance of the geographical location of the country in the implementation of the transit project Lapis Lazuli of Afghanistan supplies. In addition, the Azerbaijani military provides substantial support to the Afghan authorities. "All this creates a serious basis for deepening our relations with Azerbaijan," Wells noted.

Touching upon the situation in Afghanistan, she noted that the meeting in Baku was the first after the conclusion of the peace agreement between the Afghan authorities and the Taliban movement.

"The civilian population of Afghanistan has welcomed this truce. US authorities have also actively supported the initiative. The same was expressed by the meeting of the International Contact Group in Baku, which reached out to the Taliban. Now it is up to them," Wells said -16D-.