Baku wants close integration with European institutions – premier
By Sevindzh Abdullayeva, Viktor Shulman
ITAR-TASS News Agency
September 17, 2004 Friday 12:21 PM Eastern Time
BAKU, September 17 — Baku wants close integration with European
institutions, Azerbaijani Prime Minister Artur Rasi-zade said at a
Friday meeting with European Commission President Romano Prodi.
Azerbaijan is the only South Caucasian country, which has repaid $57
million in EU loans in full, he said.
The European Union is implementing over 25 joint projects in
Azerbaijan, primarily in the sphere of transport, telecommunications,
energy and foods.
Azerbaijan’s affiliation to the EU Neighbors programs began a new
phase in the integration of the Transcaucasian republic with the
European political and economic space, Prodi said.
The European Commission President also met with Azerbaijani
Parliament Speaker Murtuz Aleskerov. He touched upon peace
settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh and expressed the hope that parties
to the conflict will not allow a third party to interfere with the
peacemaking process and resolve the problem unaided. He promised EU
comprehensive assistance to rehabilitation of Azerbaijan and Armenia
after the achievement of peace.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress