Agenda of "Heart of Asia" conference being worked out

By Azernews

By Amina Nazarli

The "Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process" conference to be held in Baku this year will offer another chance at reconciliation and development in Afghanistan.

The conference will discuss the situation in the war-torn country with a particular focus on Afghan economy, while the security-related issues will surely be among key topics, a source told Trend.

The Heart of Asia Conference is an intergovernmental organization founded in Istanbul, Turkey. The aim is to provide a platform to discuss regional issues, particularly encouraging security, political, and economic cooperation among Afghanistan and its neighbors.

Azerbaijan joined this process in 2012. The country assumed the co-chairmanship of the Heart of Asia – Istanbul process for 2017 in early December 2016.

The process encompasses 14 participating countries, as well as 17 countries and 12 regional and international organizations supporting its agenda.

The conference, which will be held at the level of the foreign ministers of the participating countries, will also consider issue of developing concrete measures to combat terrorism, responding to emergencies, counter-terrorism measures, combating drug trafficking, promoting trade and investment, regional infrastructure and education.

A meeting of high-ranking officials of the countries participating in the "Heart of Asia - Istanbul Process" took place in Baku on March 17. Azerbaijan has accepted the responsibilities of holding this event as a co-chair of the process this year.

The first meeting of the FMs of the Istanbul process was held in Istanbul 2011, then in Kabul, Almaty, Beijing, and in Islamabad. The last ministerial meeting was held in Amritsar, India.

Azerbaijan supports the Afghan way of reforms by its assistance in the areas of education, infrastructure and transport development, investments and enhancing the role of women in the society.

The country has several times made substantial donations to the Afghan National Army (ANA) Trust Fund. 

The peacekeeping contingent of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces has been serving in Afghanistan since November 20, 2002. Azerbaijan, as a reliable partner of NATO and friend of brotherly Afghanistan, is committed to continue its significant contribution to the Resolute Support Mission by providing troops, multi-modal transit, training and financial assistance.