AZERI PUNDITS DOWNPLAY EU WARNING OVER TIES WITH TURKISH CYPRUS
by R. Azar

Zerkalo, Azerbaijan
Oct 7 2005

Another ultimatum from the European Union

If Azerbaijan does not change its position on Cyprus, the EU will
only accept Armenia and Georgia

Relations with Northern Cyprus may prolong Azerbaijan’s joining the
European Union’s [EU] New Neighbourhood Policy, the Trend news agency
has quoted EU Commissioner for foreign relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner
as telling the Radio Liberty.

“The EU only recognizes the independence of the Republic of Cyprus.

But this republic is protesting against Baku’s contacts with Lefkosa
and flights from Azerbaijan to Northern Cyprus,” she said.

Addressing the foreign relations committee of the European Parliament
in Brussels, Ferrero-Waldner said she had informed Azerbaijan that
if the country did not change its position, the EU would only accept
Armenia and Georgia. She expressed her hope that Azerbaijan would
resolve this issue. “But this will take a few weeks,” she said.

The head of the information department of the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry, Tahir Tagizada, said that Baku’s policy is directed at
preventing the crisis in both the Turkish and Greek communities of
Cyprus. Tagizada said that he had not received any official information
concerning cooperation with the EU within the framework of the New
Neighbourhood Policy.

“Azerbaijan is ready to take steps under the approved action plan. As
for the flights, this is a commercial initiative and has nothing to
do with the government’s foreign policy,” Tagizada said.

Political pundit Vafa Quluzada said that Azerbaijan pursued a right
policy towards the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [TRNC]. He
added that Azerbaijan had established bilateral relations with Finland,
Great Britain, France and other EU member states although it was not
a member of the union.

“The EU has closed the door on the TRNC and does not want other
countries to cooperate with it. Baku is on the right track. The EU
can never influence Azerbaijan in this issue,” Quluzada said.

Another political pundit Zardust Alizada said that on the one hand,
Azerbaijan wants to be accepted to the EU and on the other hand,
it goes against the principles of this organization.

“However, despite the statement of the EU official, I do not think that
the EU will take any dangerous step against Azerbaijan,” Alizada said.

Western analysts believe that Azerbaijan, as part of the South
Caucasus, is of great importance to the EU. Therefore, stability in
Azerbaijan, which goes through a democratic election, means stability
in Europe. Azerbaijan’s participation in the EU’s policy ensures
the supremacy of the law and the development of democracy. From this
viewpoint, our laws should be brought into conformity with European
standards.

But further development of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU
will largely depend on the course of the forthcoming parliamentary
election in our country. The EU calls on Baku to make a concerted
effort to ensure that the election is in line with international
norms. Brussels believes that the EU’s tough position may put an end
to the views that democracy has several varieties in the West and
these varieties must be the way it wants.