WHEN THE ACTION PLAN IS ADOPTED, EU, AZERBAIJAN WILL ENTER A NEW ACTIVE PHASE IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP – EU SR
Author: A.Mammadova

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 10 2006

Trend’s exclusive interview with European Union’s Special
Representative for South Caucasus Peter Semneby

Question: When exactly will you arrive in Azerbaijan?

Answer: I have the intention of visiting all three countries in
the South Caucasus with regular intervals. I just returned from the
successful EU troika visit, which also brought me to Azerbaijan. I
intend to come to Azerbaijan at least once more before the end of
the year.

Question: What are the objectives of your visit to Azerbaijan in
November? Who are you planning to meet during the visit?

Answer: The purpose will be to discuss some aspects of the European
Neighbourhood Action Plan, which are particularly relevant for my
activities, in particular the political parts, such as conflict
resolution, the development of democratic institutions, the rule of
law, human rights, and regional cooperation.

As usual, I will discuss the issue of conflict resolution. Although the
negotiations on Nagorny Karabakh are the responsibility of the Minsk
Group, there is a lot the EU can do to support their work and create
conditions for confidence-building. I believe that the lack of contacts
between Azeris and the people in Karabakh is a serious problem. There
is a similar situation in Georgia, in particular between Georgians
and Abkhaz, who have not had any significant contacts for one and a
half decades. The lack of contact and the development of societies in
different directions make a peaceful resolution more and more difficult
as time passes. Therefore, we should think about how to gradually
create conditions for interaction and contacts between the communities.

When the Action Plan is adopted, the EU and Azerbaijan will enter
a new and much more active phase in their relationship. I am very
happy that Azerbaijan has made the choice to deepen its relationship
with the European Union. This is very much a mutually beneficial
relationship. The EU made a strategic choice by extending the European
Neighbourhood Policy to the countries of the South Caucasus, and
I believe that the Azeri decision to accept the offer represents a
strategic choice as well.

I do not yet know exactly whom I will meet on my next visit, but I
usually see a range of the highest political leaders, senior officials
in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as media, civil society
and opposition representatives.

Question: When and where will the ENP Action Plan be finally
approved? What steps will be taken after the approval?

Answer: The Action Plan is scheduled to be formally approved at
the meeting of the Cooperation Council in mid-November. This also
marks the formal start of programming. Beginning next year, funding
will be available under the so-called European Neighbourhood Policy
Instrument. In order to be able to support the implementation of the
action plan as effectively as possible, the European Commission is
planning to open a Delegation in Baku in early 2007.

Question: Will you visit Georgia and Armenia too? Which meetings are
you planning to hold in those countries?

Answer: Yes, I will also go to Armenia and Georgia before the end of
the year. I usually have very similar programmes in all countries:
government, media, civil society and opposition. In Georgia, I also
pay special attention to areas where the EU has recently been active
with advice, in particular the judicial sector and border management.

The support that we have given to Georgia in these areas can in some
ways serve as inspiration for our relations with Azerbaijan, as we
now move into the implementation of the Action Plan.