U.S. Transportation Commander emphasizes Azerbaijan's Afghan contribution

U.S. Transportation Commander emphasizes Azerbaijan's Afghan contribution
Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command General William Fraser, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan Monday, thanked Azerbaijan for its role in providing transportation for U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Meeting the Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev in Baku, Fraser said this is his first official foreign visit after he took over as U.S. Transportation Command in October, according to a press release posted on the Azerbaijani President's website.

President Aliyev said Azerbaijan is among the countries making considerable contributions to peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan from its very inception.

Humanitarian cooperation related to the mission is gradually expanding, the President stressed.

The meeting focused on joint activity of Azerbaijan and the U.S. in combating international terrorism and expanding cooperation in the sphere of security, energy and other fields.

Fraser also met with Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Safar Abiyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and political and military activities against terrorism in Baku.

Azerbaijan and its neighbor Georgia are important transit countries for U.S. and NATO troops and supplies to Afghanistan via a network of ports and railroads, which is known as the Northern Distribution Network (NDN).

Editor: yan

English.news.cn   2011-12-13 06:02:36              
BAKU, Dec. 12 (Xinhua)