(MENAFN- AzerNews)
By Sabina Mammadli
Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan have signed the Tashkent
Declaration, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye Mevlut
Cavushoglu said on Twitter.
The declaration on the results of trilateral
Uzbekistan–Azerbaijan–Türkiye Dialogue was signed by Turkish and
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Jeyhun Bayramov
as well as Acting Uzbek Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov.
'Signed the Tashkent Declaration which will increase the welfare
of the Turkic world and strengthen our relations. We will make this
mechanism permanent and realize concrete projects,' Cavushoglu
noted.
Speaking at the conference, the Uzbek official stated that the
Declaration defines the major priorities for the near future.
According to him, the meeting has confirmed the importance of
working together and focusing on achieving practical results to
ensure the sustainable development of the three countries.
'As an outcome, we have signed an important document – the
Tashkent Declaration, which defines the main priorities for the
near future. Our subsequent meetings in this format shall be more
fruitful and contribute to the even greater rapprochement between
our friendly countries,' Norov stated.
In turn, Azerbaijani economy minister has tweeted that the first
meeting of the ministers facilitated fruitful discussions on
strengthening cooperation between the three friendly and brotherly
countries, promoting joint investment projects, and utilizing
transport and logistics opportunities.
'The Tashkent Declaration, signed within the first trilateral
meeting between the Foreign, Economy, and Transport Ministers of
Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan, is a significant contribution
to the further deepening and enhancement of partnership and
friendly ties between our countries,' the minister wrote.
Zangazur corridor
Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Türkiye have underlined the
importance of the opening of the Zangazur corridor.
This is stated in the Tashkent Declaration on the Outcomes of
the First Trilateral Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs,
Trade/Economy and Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the
Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Republic of Türkiye.
According to the document, the sides emphasized the importance
of contributing to Azerbaijan's post-conflict rehabilitation,
reconstruction and reintegration efforts by investing in the
Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur regions of Azerbaijan.
In turn, Azerbaijan expressed high appreciation for the
participation of the companies of Türkiye and Uzbekistan in
infrastructure projects for the restoration and reconstruction of
the liberated territories of Azerbaijan.
Furthermore, the parties underlined the importance of the
opening of the Zangazur corridor connecting the Eastern Zangazur
and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan for the
expansion of international transport links.
Norov noted Uzbekistan's interest in seeing the Zangazur
corridor restored, which could provide the shortest land route from
Asia to Europe.
According to him, the desire of three countries for developing
interregional transport corridors has special relevance.
'The use of the transit potential of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars
railway is of great importance for Uzbekistan. Today we are
actively working on developing a basis for the
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project. At the summit of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization, heads of state in Samarkand on
September 15-16 this year, it is planned to sign a corresponding
trilateral document,' Norov informed.
He believes that the connection of the
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway with the Transcaucasus corridor
will create a unified transport network between the three countries
and expand the geography of the trade from China to Europe.
'This is why Uzbekistan is interested in having the Zangazur
corridor restored, as this could provide the shortest land route
from Asia to Europe,' Norov said.
Transport, trade
During the meeting, Uzbekistan initiated the creation of a new
transport corridor with the participation of Azerbaijan.
Speaking at the first meeting, Minister of Transport of
Uzbekistan Ilhom Mahkamov initiated the formation of a new
multimodal Türkiye-Caucasus-Central Asia-South Asia corridor
through Afghanistan.
According to him, given the extremely high potential for
accelerating the growth rates in the short and medium term of South
Asian countries, it is necessary to jointly take measures to
develop cargo transportation with South Asian countries.
'Currently, there is an opportunity to transport goods through
the territory of Afghanistan to Pakistan. Thus, our carriers are
gradually testing and are already starting to carry out cargo
transportation by road through Afghanistan,' Mahkamov said.
Further, the sides agreed to actively use the
Baku–Tbilisi–Akhalkalaki–Kars railway (BTAK).
According to the Uzbek official, the three countries are ready
to make joint efforts for reaching the full potential of
cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, and
transport, including all types of transport and transit
communication.
Norov added that the delegations decided to deepen practical
cooperation on industrial collaboration, digital economy, and
trade.
'In this regard, the countries eye making active use of all the
possibilities of the Baku–Tbilisi–Akhalkalaki–Kars railway, Turkish
and Azerbaijani international ports, as well as the North-South and
East-West transport corridors,” he noted.
Then, the minister stressed that the sides emphasized the
importance of Uzbekistan's initiative to build a
Termez–Mazar-i-Sharif–Kabul–Peshawar strategic railway line and
expressed support for the construction of the
Uzbekistan–Kyrgyzstan–China railway.
Similarly, Bayramov stated that Karabakh's revival will
contribute to the development of transport links in the region.
'Restoring transport ties in the liberated territories,
particularly the Zangazur corridor, will serve to further expand
communication in the South Caucasus region,' Bayramov stated.
According to him, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan held
successful negotiations on possibilities and future development of
transport relations.
'The countries should make every effort to develop regional
communication through actively using the
Baku–Tbilisi–Akhalkalaki–Kars railway and the Middle Corridor
transport routes,' Bayramov said.
furthermore, the minister noted that Azerbaijan seeks to advance
regional dialogue platforms.
'Azerbaijan situated at the crossroads of civilizations,
subsequently supports and promotes regional cooperation platforms.
For example, the Azerbaijan–Türkiye–Kazakhstan trilateral meeting,
held in Baku on June 27, can serve as a model of regional
dialogue,' Bayramov stated.
According to the minister, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan
will also strive to promote joint economic projects.
'Joint efforts for reaching the potential on energy,
particularly on the renewable energy, as well as trade and
transport, will contribute to the prosperity of our countries,'
said Bayramov.
As the minister emphasized, the new trilateral platform fits
well with existing efforts aimed at developing regional interaction
and meeting the common peaceful interests of Azerbaijan, Türkiye,
and Uzbekistan amidst growing challenges to global security,
stability, and economic development.
Speaking on the matter, Norov noted that the three countries
must form economic corridors.
'Our countries as hubs in their regions should not be limited
only to the function of `transit points', but must form economic
corridors by creating along existing transport routes of industrial
cooperation, logistics, and sales outlets,' he said.
In his words, this will make it possible together to produce and
supply high-value-added products to foreign markets.
Moreover, he emphasized that the trade between Uzbekistan and
Azerbaijan has increased almost sevenfold in the past five years
alone, and with Türkiye – two and a half times.
He noted that this positive trend will certainly continue this
year.
'However, the achieved high dynamics of economic cooperation
with Azerbaijan and Türkiye still does not fully meet the existing
potential for interaction. Today, there are all conditions for
fuller use of existing reserves in a mutually beneficial
partnership,' he said.
Post-war period
Talking about the post-war period, Bayramov emphasized that
Azerbaijan holds a consistent position on the normalization talks
with Armenia.
'Azerbaijan offered Armenia normalizing relations on the basis
of the principles of international law. This is the key to
security, stability, and prosperity in the South Caucasus,'
Bayramov said.
Similarly, the Turkish foreign minister noted that Türkiye wants
normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
According to him, opening communication in the South Caucasus
will bring benefits to the regional countries in the near
future.
'The current global crisis paves the way not only for risks but
also for new opportunities. Therefore, expanding trilateral ties is
of particular significance. Türkiye strives to expand trade ties
with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan,' Cavusoglu noted.
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Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews' staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @SabinaMmdl
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
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