NATO Special Representative Holds Talks In Azerbaijan

NATO's special representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai

NATO special representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai visited Azerbaijan on February 11 to discuss routes from NATO cargo to, and from Afghanistan.

In a meeting with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, Appathurai said currently some 30 percent of NATO transit cargo bound for Afghanistan passes through Azerbaijani territory.

Appathurai said during the next two-three years NATO will also be bringing cargo from Afghanistan back toward Europe as part of the planned drawdown of international forces in Afghanistan by 2014.

Appathurai also discussed the May NATO summit in Chicago with President Aliyev, who is invited to attend.

Compiled from agency reports