EUROPEAN UNION IS READY TO JOIN ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
Author: I.Khalilova

TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 30 2006

The next meeting of the EU-Azerbaijan Co-operation Committee took
place in Brussels within the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement.

The meeting focused on the interaction between Azerbaijan and European
Union in political, economical, humanitarian and other areas,
Trend reports with reference to the Economic Development Ministry
of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan was represented at the meeting by the Deputy Foreign
Minister, Mahmud Mammadguliyev, to discuss the political aspects
of co-operation and by the Deputy Economic Development Minister,
Mikayl Jabarov, to discuss economical issues. The delegation included
representatives of the Foreign Ministry, Economic Development Ministry,
State Customs Committee, State Committee on Management of State
Property and Azerbaijani Embassy in Brussels.

The event is held annually in Summer, but due to the continuation of
negotiations regarding the European Neighborhood Policy, the Azerbaijan
Government had abandoned the meeting until such time as the settlement
of the dispute was included in the National Plan. As was reported
by Trend previously, the European Union had refused to acknowledge
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within the document, and
therefore the decision was made not to hold the committee meeting
until the issue was settled.

The agenda of the meeting for the political block included the
development of human rights in the country and the development of
democratic institutions. The parties exchanged views on the solution
of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "EU inactively participates in
resolving this conflict. However, during the meeting, it was stated
that the EU is prepared to actively participate in the settlement of
the conflict," the same source told.

The meeting also included economical topics on the macro-economical
situation in Azerbaijan and EU and bilateral co-operation with
regards to the trade. During the meeting, debates were organized on
the National Action Plan within the European Neighborhood Policy. The
Plan was proposed to be confirmed at the meeting of the EU-Azerbaijan
Co-operation Council on November 14 in Brussels.