REPRESENTATIVES OF TURKMENISTAN, AZERBAIJAN AND AFGHANISTAN AGREED ON THE “ROADMAP” OF COOPERATION ON THE LAPIS LAZULI ROUTE

On the 16th of January 2021, a trilateral online meeting of the heads of the interdepartmental group of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan established to expand the capabilities of the Lapis Lazuli route through cooperation in the sector of transport and communication was held.

The Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan in charge of the transport and communication sector Bayramgeldi Ovezov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Shahin Abdulla oglu Mustafayev and the Acting Chairman of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ajmal Ahmadi participated to the meeting.

During the meeting, the parties noted the efficiency of cooperation in the given format and considered the outcomes of collaboration in the past period. The exchange of views took place on joint actions for current year.

Upon the results of the meeting, the parties signed the “Roadmap” of cooperation on Lapis Lazuli route.

It is worthwhile to note that the Transit and Transport Cooperation Agreement between Turkmenistan, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Lapis Lazuli) was signed in November of 2017 during the ministerial session of the VII Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA VII) held in Ashgabat. Among the main objectives of the partnership in this format is the enhancement of the regional economic integration.