COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: EU HR JAVIER SOLANA MET ILHAM ALIYEV
by Emanuele G.

Girodivite.it
-of-the-European-Union-EU,11856.html
April 30 2009
Italy

Javier SOLANA, European Union High Representative for the Common
Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), had a meeting today with President
Ilham ALIYEV of Azerbaijan.

At the meeting they discussed the latest developments in Azerbaijan,
regional issues and EU-Azerbaijan relations, in particular the
forthcoming Eastern Partnership and Southern Corridor summits to take
place in Prague on 7 and 8 May 2009.

Mr SOLANA and Mr ALIYEV stressed the importance of reinforcing ties
between the EU and Azerbaijan. The Eastern Partnership initiative will
be an excellent means of contributing to the stability and prosperity
of Azerbaijan and the region as a whole.

They also discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. Mr SOLANA strongly
supported all the diplomatic efforts led by the "Minsk Group" for a
peaceful resolution of this conflict.

Energy was another important issue on the agenda. Mr SOLANA agreed
with Mr ALIYEV that energy security was one of the big challenges
facing us. He encouraged President ALIYEV to continue working closely
with the EU.

The EU encourages Azerbaijan to make further progress with political
reforms, in particular freedom of the media and human right issues.