▁on ▁October ▁ 3 0 , ▁ 2 0 1 7 . ▁ ▁Il ham ▁Ali ye v ▁stated ▁that ▁the ▁L apis - L az uli ▁Route ▁Ag re ement ▁by ▁Afghan istan , ▁A zer ba ij an , ▁Georgia , ▁Turkey ▁and ▁Turk men istan , ▁being ▁a ▁major ▁international ▁trade ▁and ▁transport ▁cor rid or , ▁will ▁connect ▁Afghan istan ▁to ▁Europe ▁through ▁the ▁B aku - T bil isi - K ars ▁railway . ▁ ▁During ▁his ▁meeting ▁with ▁the ▁President ▁of ▁Afghan istan ▁Ash raf ▁Gh ani ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁and ▁the ▁President ▁of ▁Turk men istan ▁G urb ang uly ▁B erd im uh amed ov ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁Il ham ▁Ali ye v ▁re aff ir med ▁the ▁commit ment ▁of ▁A zer ba ij an ▁to ▁achieve ▁practical ▁implementation ▁of ▁L apis - L az uli ▁Route . ▁ ▁International ▁sport ing ▁events ▁ ▁Il ham ▁Ali ye v ▁is ▁the ▁president ▁of ▁National ▁Olympic ▁Committee ▁of ▁the ▁A zer ba ij an ▁Republic ▁since ▁ 1 9 9 7 . ▁During ▁his ▁presiden cy ▁of ▁National ▁Olympic ▁Committee , ▁A zer ba ij an ▁hosted ▁some ▁international ▁sports ▁events ▁such ▁as ▁ 1 st ▁European ▁Games , ▁ 4 th ▁Islam ic ▁Sol id ar ity ▁Games ▁and ▁ 4 2 nd ▁Ch ess ▁Olymp i ad . ▁ ▁On ▁September ▁ 8 , ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁Il ham ▁Ali ye v ▁signed ▁an