AZG Armenian Daily #181, 08/10/2005

Neighbors

SELF-DECLARED CYPRUS A STUMBLING BLOCK FOR AZERBAIJAN

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Relations, warned
Azerbaijan that if it does not improve relations with the Republic of Cyprus
the European Commission will start negotiations with Armenia and Georgia
without waiting for Azerbaijan. “I told the Azerbaijanis terse and clear
that if they do not change their attitude, if they fail to find a solution
we will move forward with Armenia and Georgia. We hope that they will find a
solution but they have only 1-2 weeks for that as I cannot make Armenia and
Georgia wait”, Medimax quoted Ferrero-Waldner as saying.

Azerbaijan launched air connection with the self-declared Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus in July making the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus
put a veto on Azerbaijan’s EU neighborhood initiative.