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EU's Prodi hails "new chapter" in relations with Caucasus states
Agence France Presse -- English
September 17, 2004 Friday 3:45 PM GMT
The European Union is "opening a new chapter" in its relations with the
former Soviet states in the south Caucasus region, outgoing European
Commission President Romano Prodi said Friday on a visit to Azerbaijan.
Prodi was in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku at the start of a three-day
tour which will also take in neighbouring Georgia and Armenia --
the first ever visit to the region by a European Commission chief.
The three states were admitted in June to the EU's European
Neighbourhood Policy, a scheme designed to build bridges between the
union and the countries on its periphery.
"The inclusion of the three Caucasus countries in the European
Neighbourhood Policy is really a turning point in our relations,"
Prodi told a press conference.
He was speaking after a meeting with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.
"The frank atmosphere and warm talks allowed me to think that we are
really opening a new chapter in our relations," Prodi said.
"Europe is ready to co-operate through the neighbourhood policy both
in the economic and political fields."
But the European Commission chief also stressed that respect for
democracy and human rights in the south Caucasus was a pre-condition
for cooperation with the EU.
Azerbaijan in particular has been accused by human rights groups of
rigging elections and jailing opposition leaders on arbitrary charges.
"Clearly for the commission it is of vital importance that Azerbaijan
makes clear reform steps in the months ahead: reforms of democracy,
human rights, the rule of law...," said Prodi.
He said that the EU stood ready to help Azerbaijan find a lasting
settlement for its long-running conflict with Armenia over the enclave
of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The two countries fought a war in the early 1990s over the enclave,
which displaced about a million civilians and left some 35,000
people dead. There are widespread fears that the conflict could flare
up again.
Prodi, whose term as European Commission chief ends on November 1,
was due to fly out of Azerbaijan later Friday for Georgia, where he
will meet President Mikhail Saakashvili.
Agence France Presse -- English
September 17, 2004 Friday 3:45 PM GMT
The European Union is "opening a new chapter" in its relations with the
former Soviet states in the south Caucasus region, outgoing European
Commission President Romano Prodi said Friday on a visit to Azerbaijan.
Prodi was in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku at the start of a three-day
tour which will also take in neighbouring Georgia and Armenia --
the first ever visit to the region by a European Commission chief.
The three states were admitted in June to the EU's European
Neighbourhood Policy, a scheme designed to build bridges between the
union and the countries on its periphery.
"The inclusion of the three Caucasus countries in the European
Neighbourhood Policy is really a turning point in our relations,"
Prodi told a press conference.
He was speaking after a meeting with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev.
"The frank atmosphere and warm talks allowed me to think that we are
really opening a new chapter in our relations," Prodi said.
"Europe is ready to co-operate through the neighbourhood policy both
in the economic and political fields."
But the European Commission chief also stressed that respect for
democracy and human rights in the south Caucasus was a pre-condition
for cooperation with the EU.
Azerbaijan in particular has been accused by human rights groups of
rigging elections and jailing opposition leaders on arbitrary charges.
"Clearly for the commission it is of vital importance that Azerbaijan
makes clear reform steps in the months ahead: reforms of democracy,
human rights, the rule of law...," said Prodi.
He said that the EU stood ready to help Azerbaijan find a lasting
settlement for its long-running conflict with Armenia over the enclave
of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The two countries fought a war in the early 1990s over the enclave,
which displaced about a million civilians and left some 35,000
people dead. There are widespread fears that the conflict could flare
up again.
Prodi, whose term as European Commission chief ends on November 1,
was due to fly out of Azerbaijan later Friday for Georgia, where he
will meet President Mikhail Saakashvili.