BAKU - State Minister Ramazan Mirzaoglu said on Wednesday that Black Sea-Caspian water way should be open to international traffic.
Mirzaoglu, currently holding contacts in Baku, met Aydin Besirov, the Chairman of Caspian Sea Maritime.
Speaking there, Mirzaoglu pointed out that Turkey was willing to increase commercial relations between Caspian and the Black Sea regions through Volga and Don rivers, stressing that they called on support from Azerbaijan in this respect.
Pointing out that Azerbaijan made nearly 80 percent of transportation of the Caspian, Mirzaoglu said for more than 500 years, the sides thought of Black Sea-Caspian Sea transportation connection. He said international transportation would be for the benefit of Caspian littoral countries.
''Black Sea-Caspian water way should be open to international traffic. We are ready to meet the expenses,'' Mirzaoglu said, adding that the goods like wheat, lumber, and cotton, which Turkey purchased would be sent through sea transportation. He said highway transportation did not seem possible.
Stressing that they were resolved to open Black Sea-Caspian Sea to traffic, Mirzoglu said, ''we will open this way. You transport our cargo. At the same time, Baku Harbour can be the main harbour.''
Mirzaoglu said making some part of Baku Harbour a ''free zone'' was on the agenda, stressing that the most reliable and cheapest way was the sea transportation. He said Azerbaijan's opening to the world depended on its coming to the Black Sea.
Stating that the biggest trade fleet in the Caspian Sea belonged to Azerbaijan, Mirzaoglu said transportation of 10 million tonnes of cargo was pleasing for them.
Besirov in his part briefed about their activities and pointed out that their capacity of transportation increased every day.
Stressing that 20 ships belonging to them worked in the Black Sea, Besirov said their technical betterment and repair were made in Tuzla shipyard.