Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

EU Commission chief Prodi heads to strategic Caucasus region

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • EU Commission chief Prodi heads to strategic Caucasus region

    EU Commission chief Prodi heads to strategic Caucasus region

    Agence France Presse -- English
    September 16, 2004 Thursday

    BAKU Sept 16 -- European Commission President Romano Prodi was due
    to arrive in Azerbaijan Thursday at the start of a three-day visit
    to the south Caucasus, a strategic region where Moscow and Washington
    compete for influence.

    Prodi is scheduled to have talks with officials in oil-rich Azerbaijan
    before flying on to neighbouring Georgia, scene of last year's dramatic
    "rose revolution." He will round off his tour with a visit to Armenia.

    The European Union's top official said the aim of his visit was to
    promote democracy, strengthen links with the EU and help resolve
    lingering conflicts in the region, which was previously part of the
    Soviet Union.

    "This first-ever visit by a European Commission president highlights
    the EU's interest in the region," Prodi said ahead of the trip.

    "My visit is intended to send the important message that the EU is
    fully committed to supporting the Southern Caucasus countries as they
    work to build stable societies based on democratic values."

    Western governemnts have a strong interest in the region, which is
    set to become a crossroads for transporting oil and gas supplies
    from the Caspian Sea, home to some of the world's biggest untapped
    hydrocarbon reserves.

    However, Russia, the former imperial power in the region, is also a
    key player.

    There are three unresolved armed conflicts in the region -- between
    Georgia and separatists in South Ossetia and Abkazia and between
    Armenia and Azerbaijan over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

    Some in the region accuse Moscow of fanning the conflicts to preserve
    its influence in the south Caucasus.

    In June, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia were admitted to the EU's
    European Neighbourhood Policy, a scheme designed to build bridges
    between the EU and the countries on its periphery.

    Prodi's term as European Commission President ends on November
    1. He will be succeeded by Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel
    Durao Barroso.
Working...
X