Azerbaijan hails expansion of East-West Trans-Caspian transport corridor PHOTO

Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has said that Azerbaijan hails expansion of the East-West Trans-Caspian transport corridor.

He made the remarks at a meeting of the Azerbaijani, Turkish and Turkmen foreign ministers in Turkmenistan’s Avaza national tourist zone on December 13, Caliber.Az reports citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The views on the documents to be adopted at the first summit of the Azerbaijani, Turkish and Turkmen leaders, which will be held on December 14, were exchanged at the meeting.

The documents will cover spheres such as energy, trade, customs, transport, education and culture.

The sides also discussed the prospects for the development of relations in the Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Turkmenistan trilateral format.

“The First Summit of the Heads of State of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Türkiye and Turkmenistan, which will take place on December 14, 2022, is of historical importance,” Bayramov said.

“Our cooperation continues successfully within the framework of international and regional organisations in which our countries jointly participate,” the Azerbaijani foreign minister noted.

He added that it is important to increase efforts to strengthen the transit potential of countries, including the East-West Trans-Caspian transport corridor, and to promote cooperation between the seaports of Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Turkmenistan.

“In this regard, the creation of a new transport infrastructure on the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, including the operation of the Zangezur corridor, is of particular importance in terms of the opening of a new transport artery along the Middle Corridor,” Bayramov said.

He noted that at the same time, the significant growth in the relevance of energy security demonstrates the importance of expanding mutually beneficial cooperation between the states in this field.

“Eliminating the grave consequences of the 30 years of occupation and ensuring the safe and dignified return of our citizens displaced from their homelands is the most important priority for Azerbaijan after the end of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” the minister stressed.

“For this purpose, large-scale restoration and construction work are being carried out in our territories liberated from occupation,” Bayramov said.

He underlined that contamination of territories with landmines and other explosives is the most serious obstacle for restoration and construction work.

Furthermore, the Turkish and Turkmen foreign ministers delivered speeches on the prospects for a trilateral partnership.