EU INSISTS THAT TURKISH-ARMENIAN BORDER OPENING TO PROMOTE REGION’S SAFETY

Azerbaijan Business Center
May 25 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The Azerbaijan-based European Union representative
office has disseminated statement following the Baku visit of Peter
Semneby, the EU special representative for the South Caucasus, on
19-20 May 2009.

It was reported that as part of his regular consultations with the
Azerbaijani authorities, Mr. Semneby met with several officials of
the government, including President Ilham Aliyev and foreign minister
Elmar Mammadiyarov.

He also discussed with the Azerbaijani authorities the Eastern
Partnership programme signed by the EU and six countries of its
Eastern European Neighbourhood last 7 May in Prague.

The Eastern Partnership will create opportunities for a stronger
bilateral relationship between the EU and with the participating
countries, in particular through the planned negotiation of association
agreements. It will also create opportunities for developing regional
cooperation through regional platforms for governance issues, economic
cooperation, energy issues, and people-to-people contacts.

Mr. Semneby also covered the Turkish-Armenian normalisation process
and its implications for Azerbaijan. He outlined the EU’s vision of the
South Caucasus, where the opening of all borders would enhance regional
security and permit the region to develop its full economic potential.

The issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement was also
touched upon by the EU special representative during the visit. The EU
supports the work now being conducted by the three co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk group. Mr. Semneby shares the hope of the mediators that
the forthcoming Saint Petersburg meeting between the Presidents will
be a new opportunity for the sides to bring their positions closer.

The EU special representative welcomed the signing by Azerbaijan
of the Prague Southern Corridor Summit Declaration. In particular,
the Declaration will create opportunities to move forward the
energy cooperation between the European Union and its Eastern
neighbours. Azerbaijan is playing a fundamental role in the EU’s energy
relations, not least for its efforts to diversify energy sources and
transport routes.