EU OFFICIAL ISSUES CAUTION OVER TIES WITH AZERBAIJAN
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, Czech Republic
Oct 5 2005
5 October 2005 — The European Union’s external relations commissioner,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, warned today that Azerbaijan risks delaying
its participation in the EU’s European Neighborhood Program by pursuing
ties with Northern Cyprus.
“I told the Azeris clearly: ‘If they do not change their attitude, if
they do not find a solution, we will start moving ahead with Armenia
and Georgia,'” Ferrero-Waldner said. “We’re hoping now that the Azeris
will find a solution, but this is going to be a matter of some weeks
after I must give the go-ahead to the others [Armenia and Georgia]
because I cannot let them wait.”
The EU only recognizes the Greek-community government of the divided
island, which joined the EU in 2004.
Cyprus is now blocking Azerbaijan’s progress in the European
neighborhood program — also known as the wider Europe initiative —
over Baku’s links to the Turkish part of Cyprus, having specifically
complained about commercial flight activity.
Ferrero-Waldner, who was speaking before the European Parliament’s
foreign affairs committee in Brussels, said she had warned Azerbaijan
of the risk.