FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2003
Iran, Afghanistan for new 'silk road'
AP
TEHRAN: Iran, Afghanistan and two central Asian countries have signed an agreement to build a new Silk Road to facilitate transportation and trade within their region and the outside world.
"This will be a new route reviving the ancient Silk Road," Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said after signing the agreement. "This road, once built, will make Central Asia's access hundreds of kilometres shorter to international waters in the Persian Gulf."
The road, based on an ancient trade route, will connect Iran to Central Asia through Afghanistan and allow exports of goods between the region and the outside world.
He said the road will interconnect the interests of all the countries involved, from China to Central Asia and from Iran to the rest of the world.
"All those who are going to use the road will be concerned about protecting its security," he said.
The agreement was signed separately between Iran, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan and later between Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan in Sa'adabad Palace, north of Tehran.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the road will be of "great economic importance" to Afghanistan and a source of income for the landlocked nation.
Karzai said he was hoping that Pakistan, China and Kazakhstan will join to enlarge the project.
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