'NATO Considering Azerbaijan's Territory to Deliver Overland Cargos to Afghanistan: NATO Special Representative', Trendaz News, 11 April 2008

EXCERPT: "NATO held talks with Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with regards to overland delivery of cargos to Afghanistan according to Line Communication program, NATO Secretary General's Special Representative, Robert Simmons, said on 11 April in Astana. 'We have gained positive response from the Government of Kazakhstan in this regard,' said NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, Robert Simmons, at a press-conference. NATO carries out project Line Communications envisaging transit of its cargos without any hustle via Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan through the railway which was formerly used by the Soviet Union. Simmons said that during the NATO summit in Bucharest, exchange of correspondence was held with the Russian side, which allowed transportation of the cargos of the Alliance via Russian territory. 'It is an agreement ? effort to designate alternative route of cargo deliveries to our military people in Afghanistan. However, Russian borders are far from Afghanistan. Therefore, today we held talks with the Government of Kazakhstan and will hold similar talks with Uzbekistan, where we will go after our visit to Astana,' NATO representative said."

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See also:
'', Pakistan Observer, 11 April 2008
'', Asia Times Online
'NATO, Russia bridging gap in Afghanistan', Canada.com, 4 April 2008

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