EU SAYS WILL DEVELOP PARTNERSHIP WITH ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, GEORGIA
Interfax
Oct 27 2009
Russia
The European Union intends to continue developing partnership with
the three countries of the Southern Caucasus and is assisting in
the cooperation between them within the framework of the Eastern
Partnership policies, a communique issued after the meeting between
the EU Troika and the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Armenia,
and Georgia says.
The Council of Foreign Ministers of the EU Countries met on Monday.
Among the meeting participants were the foreign ministers of the three
countries, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt (who represents Sweden,
which currently chairs the EU) European Commissioner for External
Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and
EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Xavier Solana.
On the same day, the EU-Armenia Cooperation Council and the EU-
Georgia Cooperation Council met at the level of foreign ministers.
Reports released after these meetings state that the EU has discussed
with Armenia and Georgia the prospects of negotiations on the new
"association" agreements.
The EU promised to provide political and technical support to the
process of full normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey
and hailed the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which "has
helped narrow the differences" on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The EU has reconfirmed its commitment to support the development of
democratic institutions in Georgia.
The EU-Georgia Cooperation Council also addressed the role of the EU
in settling the conflict in Georgia through the presence of the EU
observer mission there, the EU involvement in the Geneva talks, its
financial assistance to the Georgian regions hurt in the conflict,
assistance to displaced persons, and economic stabilization.
The EU has also reconfirmed its commitment to support the security and
stability of Georgia on the basis of full respect of the principles
of independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and also
peaceful and long-term conflict settlement.