President of Azerbaijan: "We highly praise the European Union`s initiative and support for implementing the TRACECA program"

"In September of 1998 - on the initiative by our nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev - the Basic Multilateral Agreement on development of the Europe-Caucasus-Asia corridor was signed in Baku during the International Conference for Reconstruction of the Historical Silk Road, laying legal grounds for launching international goods transportation among our countries.

Over the past period, the volume of international goods transportation considerably grew among European, Caucasian and Asian states as the result of a number of projects implemented to develop economic, trade and transport relations, boost goods transportation and provide transport networks with an access to the world markets.

During this period, important regional projects were implemented to expand and improve - from an institutional point of view - the Basic Multilateral Agreement, renew and develop transport infrastructure of the countries that joined the Agreement, launch a coordinated tariff policy, create favorable investment climate, train specialists, ease border crossing procedures and ensure goods transportation security.

We highly praise the European Union`s initiative and support for implementing the TRACECA program, which paves the way for the Europe-Caucasus-Asia corridor to become a communication tool encouraging international cooperation.

I’m confident the reconstruction of the Great Silk Road and the work of the TRACECA transport corridor will give a strong boost to regional integration processes, and further serve social and economic development of our countries.

I wish the conference successful work and all of you new successes in your future activities", said the President.

/Day.Az/