Azerbaijan calls on ISAF to improve efforts to reduce civilian casualties

Azerbaijan urges the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to increase efforts to reduce civilian casualties, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said on Thursday addressing ISAF foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.

The current situation in Afghanistan seriously affects regional and global security. Based on the principle of indivisibility of security and taking into account the friendly relations with Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, from the outset contributes to the process of establishing security, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan, Mammadyarov underlined.

"Geographic location and existing infrastructure turned Azerbaijan into a major transit country in the region. Goods and manpower needed for ISAF operations are transported to Afghanistan by land and air space of Azerbaijan. Volume of these transits increases every year," Mammadyarov said.

The country implements projects of training civilians, servicemen, police officers, specialists, as well as border guards, diplomats and civil servants on combating terrorism and mine clearance. Azerbaijan shares concern of the international community and Afghan government associated with drug flow into the region. In coordination with the Afghan government and participation of interested countries Azerbaijan can take part in projects to prevent drug flow, he said.

"We strongly support the transitional period in Afghanistan. Azerbaijan as a country interested in Afghanistan's economic development can work on investment projects to be proposed by the Afghan government. At present, we have a number of private companies operating in Afghanistan and investing in this country," Mammadyarov said.


/Trend/