News from AzerTAc.

An event titled “26 April-the Istanbul process: Astana meeting: Afghanistan after 2014” was held at the Institute of Central Asia and Caucasus University of John Hopkins on 9 April.

The event saw speeches by Counsellor of the Embassy of Azerbaijan Nargiz Gurbanova, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to the U.S., Kairat Umarov, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Lynn Tracy and counsellor of the Embassy of Turkey Timur Soylemez.

Counsellor of the Embassy N. Gurbanova spoke about the leading role of Azerbaijan in the ongoing confidence-building measures as part of the Istanbul process, particularly in regional infrastructure, emphasized the importance of the economic development of Afghanistan, integration of this country into the world market through regional transportation network.

“If we want to see Afghanistan mature, stable and independent, we need to support the economy of the country”, she said, noting the importance of the establishment of the regional trade and transportation links of this country after 2014.

Assistant Secretary Tracy Lin praised the organization of seminars for Afghan diplomats by Azerbaijan, Turkish and Kazakh diplomats and the contribution of these states to science in Afghanistan. Noting that Alat port under construction in Azerbaijan will have an impact on the improvement of the cargo transportation in the region. Tracy stressed that Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project implemented with the participation of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey will connect the region with Europe.

The event was devoted to a meeting of high-ranking representatives of the Istanbul process, which will take place in Almaty on 26 April

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