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AssA-Irada, Azerbaijan
February 18, 2010 Thursday
EU ENVOY SAYS EASTERN PARTNERSHIP TO AID CONFLICT RESOLUTION
EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Roland Kobia believes that the Eastern
Partnership Program will bring to Azerbaijan not only economic
benefits, but also will help start a dialogue with its neighbors,
which is a key aspect of solving any conflict. "The best way of
solving any conflict is the willingness to negotiate with opponents.
The Eastern Partnership contributes to this dialogue," Kobia said at
the debates organized at the Center for Strategic Studies in Baku on
Thursday.
The Eastern Partnership Program is a Polish-Swedish initiative under
the EU Neighborhood Policy aimed at improving EU relations with former
Soviet states. The program was approved at an EU meeting March 20 last
year. The founding summit of the Eastern Partnership Program was held
May 7. The program will include six countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus. Under the program, the EU will
provide neighbor countries with 600 million euros in 2009-2013. The EU
is not directly involved in the process of resolving the
Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, but the EU is
ready to promote peace in the region in order to help people, the
ambassador said. France co-chairs the OSCEs Minsk Group, which is
working to reach a peaceful resolution to the Garabagh conflict.
According to the ambassador, the Minsk Group is doing everything
possible for the successful outcome of the conflict. "The EU has not
had enough opportunities to interfere in the negotiations process. But
we are ready to do more if we are asked," the ambassador said.
Concerning Eastern Partnership Program prospects, Kobia said the
program is an ambitious initiative for both the EU and Azerbaijan.
This cooperation will bring tremendous benefits to Azerbaijan. The
program is planned to allocate 400-600 million manats to Azerbaijan,
the ambassador added. This amount may be increased after 2013. At
bilateral level, Eastern Partnership envisages: - Signing of an
association agreement with each country. The procedure with Azerbaijan
is scheduled to begin in 2010. - Creating a free trade zone.
-Simplifying of visa regime between the program's countries and the
EU. It is planned to ultimately achieve full abolition of the visa
regime and pass to the free movement of citizens between the Eastern
Partnership countries and the EU. - Comprehensive institutional
development.
February 18, 2010 Thursday
EU ENVOY SAYS EASTERN PARTNERSHIP TO AID CONFLICT RESOLUTION
EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Roland Kobia believes that the Eastern
Partnership Program will bring to Azerbaijan not only economic
benefits, but also will help start a dialogue with its neighbors,
which is a key aspect of solving any conflict. "The best way of
solving any conflict is the willingness to negotiate with opponents.
The Eastern Partnership contributes to this dialogue," Kobia said at
the debates organized at the Center for Strategic Studies in Baku on
Thursday.
The Eastern Partnership Program is a Polish-Swedish initiative under
the EU Neighborhood Policy aimed at improving EU relations with former
Soviet states. The program was approved at an EU meeting March 20 last
year. The founding summit of the Eastern Partnership Program was held
May 7. The program will include six countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus. Under the program, the EU will
provide neighbor countries with 600 million euros in 2009-2013. The EU
is not directly involved in the process of resolving the
Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, but the EU is
ready to promote peace in the region in order to help people, the
ambassador said. France co-chairs the OSCEs Minsk Group, which is
working to reach a peaceful resolution to the Garabagh conflict.
According to the ambassador, the Minsk Group is doing everything
possible for the successful outcome of the conflict. "The EU has not
had enough opportunities to interfere in the negotiations process. But
we are ready to do more if we are asked," the ambassador said.
Concerning Eastern Partnership Program prospects, Kobia said the
program is an ambitious initiative for both the EU and Azerbaijan.
This cooperation will bring tremendous benefits to Azerbaijan. The
program is planned to allocate 400-600 million manats to Azerbaijan,
the ambassador added. This amount may be increased after 2013. At
bilateral level, Eastern Partnership envisages: - Signing of an
association agreement with each country. The procedure with Azerbaijan
is scheduled to begin in 2010. - Creating a free trade zone.
-Simplifying of visa regime between the program's countries and the
EU. It is planned to ultimately achieve full abolition of the visa
regime and pass to the free movement of citizens between the Eastern
Partnership countries and the EU. - Comprehensive institutional
development.