PETER SEMNEBY: "WE HOPE THAT AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS WILL AGREE TO DEVELOP THE NEGOTIATIONS"

Azeri Press Agency
June 2 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Tamara Grigorieva-APA. EU special representative on the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby has started his visit to Azerbaijan.

Peter Semneby said he would discuss EU-Azerbaijan relations, political
reforms in the country, preparations for the presidential elections,
energy cooperation and the solution of Nagorno Karabakh problem at
the meetings in Azerbaijan, APA reports. He said the meeting between
Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents was important. "We hope that the
leaders of both countries will agree to develop the negotiations. It
is impossible to expect full solution of the conflict from this
meeting". Semneby said post-election situation in Armenia was
normalized, but there were still some problems there. "We hope that
those problems will find their solutions". EU representative said they
would express opinion on the amendments to the Electoral Code. "We
will express our opinion on the basis of Venice Commission’s report".

During the two-day visit to Azerbaijan, Peter Semneby is expected to
meet with the President, Foreign Minister, Chairman of the Central
Election Commission, NGO representatives and party leaders.