PETER SEMNEBY: "WE HOPE THAT AZERBAIJAN WILL DO ITS BEST TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE ELECTION"

Azeri Press Agency
Aug 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Tamara Grigoryeva – APA. Special representative of the European
Union for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby held a press conference on
the outcomes of his visit to Azerbaijan, APA reports. Peter Semneby
said the main aim of his visit was to study the state of preparation
for the elections in the country. The special representative said
he had met with President Ilham Aliyev, Foreign Elmar Mammadyarov,
Interior Minister Ramil Usubov and the representatives of a number of
NGOs and noted that the election was a good opportunity for laying the
foundation of democratic development and creating political culture
in the countries, which have newly chosen the way of democracy.

"We attach great importance to the cooperation with Azerbaijan. At
the meetings with officials it was stated that Azerbaijani side also
attached great significance to this cooperation. Positive assessment of
the elections by the international mission is very important", he said.

Peter Semneby said negative processes in the countries had influence
on the elections, but he did not want to comment beforehand.

"We hope that Azerbaijan will do its best to achieve positive
assessment of the election", he said.

Touching upon the Nagorno Karabakh problem, Peter Semneby noted
that EU supported the efforts of Azerbaijan and Armenia towards the
settlement of the conflict.

"It is good that the two presidents met after a long break in June
this year. Though no agreement was reached, it is important for the
sides to make a step forward", he said.

The special representative said high-level meetings in the field of
energy would take place between EU and Azerbaijan.