TALVITIE DOES NOT RULE OUT INDIVIDUAL APPROACH TO SOUTH CAUCASUS STATES

Pan Armenian News
29.09.2005 05:23

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The discussions of the European Neighborhood Policy
program should have started September 1. However these were delayed
due to the complicated relations between Azerbaijan and one of the
EU member states, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus
Heikki Talvitie stated at a joint news conference with Armenian FM
Vartan Oskanian. He also noted that the EU has commitments to protect
any state that is part of it.

In his words, it is necessary to make it clear first and only after
the problem with the country in question is solved the discussions
with the South Caucasian states will start. “We equally work for
starting the discussions with all of the three countries of the
region,” H. Talvitie said. The balance towards the South Caucasian
states is necessary to convince them that regional cooperation is
important, he added. He hoped for the problem to be solved by early
October. If not, he did not rule out the opportunity of EU approach
to the South Caucasian states on an individual basis. It should be
noted that the other day the Republic of Cyprus vetoed the candidacy
of Azerbaijan and blocked Baku participation in the EU Wider Europe:
New Neighbors Program. The suspension fo the Program is due to the
Cyprus attitude towards Azerbaijan due to direct air flights between
Baku and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Greek Cyprus
has officially raised the issue of suspension of aid to Azerbaijan
in the EU. Besides, in the course of the news conference in Yerevan
H. Talvitie noted the dynamics in the talks over settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. There is certain progress in the issue, he
remarked at that. Speaking of the constitutional changes in Armenia,
he said, “We find that these changes in the Constitution are correct
and these will benefit Armenia.”