The passage of a resolution on the establishment of Eurasian Connectivity Alliance, which was initiated by Azerbaijan and supported by most of the UN member countries at the 67^th session of the UN General Assembly, is a graphic example that the far-sighted approach of Azerbaijan to the development of information and communication technologies and its efforts aimed at the development of regional telecommunication infrastructure are supported in the international arena, Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev said on September 10.

According to him, the result of Azerbaijan's increasing authority in the international arena and successful diplomatic activity as well as respect and confidence towards the country is that the initiatives put forward by Azerbaijan are supported by an absolute majority in the international arena.

Abdullayev said the resolution indicates that the international community actively supports the activity of the Eurasian Connectivity Alliance, which plays the role of a platform between governments and serves for the development of interregional cooperation as well as the branching out of telecommunication transit routes.

Earlier Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technologies Elmir Velizade told journalists that the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly is directly related to the implementation of the TASIM project. According to him, discussions at the UN showed that the establishment of the organization as well as the implementation of the Trans-Eurasian Information Super Highway (TASIM) project is fully in line with the processes ongoing in the world.

"Firstly, it envisages the strengthening of telecommunication infrastructure and its further development as well as the creation of new opportunities and simplification of citizens' access to the field of information. Therefore, there is a need for such projects. Azerbaijan's initiative on the TASIM project has been supported by the UN for the third time, which is a positive aspect," the deputy minister said.

The resolution on establishing the Eurasian Connectivity Alliance and the construction of TASIM was passed at the UNGA on September 4. The initiative envisages enhancing trans-regional cooperation in information and communication technologies, helping governments respond better to the needs and challenges in that sector, attracting the private sector's interest and facilitating knowledge-sharing in this field.

Azerbaijan put forward the initiative of creating the Eurasian Connectivity Alliance in August this year and the main goal of this alliance is to accelerate the implementation of the TASIM project.

TASIM is a project of regional importance, which aims to lay a transnational fiber-optic line covering the countries of Eurasia from Western Europe to Eastern Asia. The project envisions the creation of a major transit link from Frankfurt, Germany to Hong Kong. The line will combine major centers of information exchange in Europe and Asia. The line will stretch through China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey to Germany. A reserve North transit line will pass through the territory of Russia, Ukraine and Poland.

On December 21, 2009 a resolution supported by representatives of 30 countries was passed at the 64th plenary meeting of the UNGA for the creation of the TASIM superhighway.

TASIM is a long-term initiative and will be implemented in two stages.

During the first phase leading regional countries and operators will create major Internet transit infrastructure, linking the West and East. The process is planned to be finalized in late 2013.

In the second phase of the project, TASIM is expected to provide the Eurasian countries that do not have direct access to open sea, including Central Asian states, with Internet connection at affordable rates. According to the plan, new fiber-optic lines will be constructed, while the existing lines will be upgraded and linked to the TASIM network.

The TASIM project will contribute to creating an open information society in the region, increasing the speed of Internet connection and promoting the development of Internet services, which, in turn, will lead to economic development, economic diversification and increased competition.