EUROPEAN UNION PAYS TO AZERBAIJAN SPECIAL ATTENTION

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
July 22, 2006

Special Representative of the European Union on Southern Caucasus
Peter Semnebey held a news conference on results of his visit to the
country, 21 July.

Having noted, that the main purpose of visit consists in discussion
of the Plan of Activity for Azerbaijan in the frame of the New
Neighborhood Policy of the European Union, P. Semnebey informed, that
at meetings with officials of Azerbaijan he had comprehensive exchange
of views in 9 basic directions of the plan. They cover settlement
of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, development
of democratic institutes in the country, the human rights protection
and supremacy of law, regional cooperation and other questions.

He has told that ‘though negotiations on the Plan of Activity yet
have not completed, the successes, nevertheless, have been already
reached, and there were only technical questions. The Plan opens new
opportunities for the further rapprochement of Azerbaijan with the
Union. Azerbaijan represents special value for the European Union. I
consider, that Azerbaijan, too, is interested in establishment of
wide contacts with EU’, he stressed.

Noting, that at the meetings he held also discussed was the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, P. Semnebey has once again stated the
position of the European Union in connection with the conflict and
has emphasized, that EU supports peace settlement of the conflict
and though directly is not engaged in its solution, nevertheless,
can assist its elimination.

The Special Representative informed that now he would leave for Armenia
where would also touch the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. At his words,
in the meetings with the Armenian officials he is going also to focus
the arsons committed by Armenians in the occupied areas.