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"EU POLICY FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS MUST BE BOLD IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE ITS OBJECTIVES"
Today
http://www.today.az/news/politics/69318.html
June 7 2010
Azerbaijan
The Parliament magazine published the article by Evgeni Kirilov, the
EU Rapporteur on the need for an EU strategy for the South Caucasus,
entitled Broadening Horizons. Below is the full text of the article.
The South Caucasus is not only a region in the immediate neighborhood
of the EU (Romania and Bulgaria have a sea border with it), but
a region of great strategic importance in political, economic and
security terms. Therefore the EU`s main objective there should be
to participate actively in its stabilization and to encourage the
development of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia towards stability and
democracy, to establish good neighborly relations and integration
into the EU's policies.
The European parliament strongly supports all the initiatives
which increase the EU's presence in the region, and in particular
the most recent one the eastern partnership. Among other things,
it offers a valuable framework for increased regional cooperation,
the introduction of visa-free travel to the EU and the conclusion of
comprehensive free trade agreements.
Certainly, this is a two way process that requires effort and
dedication from both sides. It is in the vital interest of the three
countries to continue their efforts towards further democratization.
Good governance, political pluralism, the rule of law and respect
for human rights are of paramount importance for determining their
future relations with the EU.
Therefore, the EU should continue providing financial and technical
assistance to them in order to promote these principles and processes
within the framework of political conditionality.
The regions strategic geopolitical location, its increasing
importance as an energy, transport and communications corridor
connecting the Caspian region and Central Asia with Europe, and the
growing EU preoccupation with energy security suggest a more active
EU participation in the energy projects of the region, including the
completion of the Nabucco pipeline project.
However, these ambitious EU policies can hardly be achieved when
there is a big shadow over the region the unresolved conflicts in
Georgia and Nagorno Karabakh. They are also a serious impediment for
democratization, political stability and socioeconomic development.
Unfortunately, it was owing to the 2008 war in Georgia that the EU
realized it needs to play a more active role in the region as far
as conflict prevention and conflict management are concerned. The
deadlock situation due to these conflicts and the entry into force
of the Lisbon treaty justify an increasingly proactive EU policy.
This is particularly valid for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
where the EU has been practically absent. Simply stating support
for the work of the Minsk group at this stage is not enough if the
EU takes seriously its new, more active role in foreign policy. The
EU is the international mediator that is accepted by both sides
and whose presence does not raise controversies. There is a need
for the EU to lead the international efforts for rehabilitation and
reconstruction in this conflict area by initiating reconciliation
projects, people-to-people programmes and by sending a mission in
the region once a political solution is found.
The conflicts in the region demand a special effort also with regards
to the situation of the hundreds of thousands of displaced people,
which has serious humanitarian consequences. The EU has the means
and the experience to contribute to the creation of a more tolerant
atmosphere in the South Caucasus. It should also draw from its own
historical experience and show to the people from the region that they
can live together in peace and prosperity and that they can restore
the good relations and trust that historically existed. One of the
main tasks for the EU is to try to persuade the leaders and the people
of the region to support the peaceful initiatives, not the threats,
not the tensions.
From: A. Papazian
Today
http://www.today.az/news/politics/69318.html
June 7 2010
Azerbaijan
The Parliament magazine published the article by Evgeni Kirilov, the
EU Rapporteur on the need for an EU strategy for the South Caucasus,
entitled Broadening Horizons. Below is the full text of the article.
The South Caucasus is not only a region in the immediate neighborhood
of the EU (Romania and Bulgaria have a sea border with it), but
a region of great strategic importance in political, economic and
security terms. Therefore the EU`s main objective there should be
to participate actively in its stabilization and to encourage the
development of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia towards stability and
democracy, to establish good neighborly relations and integration
into the EU's policies.
The European parliament strongly supports all the initiatives
which increase the EU's presence in the region, and in particular
the most recent one the eastern partnership. Among other things,
it offers a valuable framework for increased regional cooperation,
the introduction of visa-free travel to the EU and the conclusion of
comprehensive free trade agreements.
Certainly, this is a two way process that requires effort and
dedication from both sides. It is in the vital interest of the three
countries to continue their efforts towards further democratization.
Good governance, political pluralism, the rule of law and respect
for human rights are of paramount importance for determining their
future relations with the EU.
Therefore, the EU should continue providing financial and technical
assistance to them in order to promote these principles and processes
within the framework of political conditionality.
The regions strategic geopolitical location, its increasing
importance as an energy, transport and communications corridor
connecting the Caspian region and Central Asia with Europe, and the
growing EU preoccupation with energy security suggest a more active
EU participation in the energy projects of the region, including the
completion of the Nabucco pipeline project.
However, these ambitious EU policies can hardly be achieved when
there is a big shadow over the region the unresolved conflicts in
Georgia and Nagorno Karabakh. They are also a serious impediment for
democratization, political stability and socioeconomic development.
Unfortunately, it was owing to the 2008 war in Georgia that the EU
realized it needs to play a more active role in the region as far
as conflict prevention and conflict management are concerned. The
deadlock situation due to these conflicts and the entry into force
of the Lisbon treaty justify an increasingly proactive EU policy.
This is particularly valid for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
where the EU has been practically absent. Simply stating support
for the work of the Minsk group at this stage is not enough if the
EU takes seriously its new, more active role in foreign policy. The
EU is the international mediator that is accepted by both sides
and whose presence does not raise controversies. There is a need
for the EU to lead the international efforts for rehabilitation and
reconstruction in this conflict area by initiating reconciliation
projects, people-to-people programmes and by sending a mission in
the region once a political solution is found.
The conflicts in the region demand a special effort also with regards
to the situation of the hundreds of thousands of displaced people,
which has serious humanitarian consequences. The EU has the means
and the experience to contribute to the creation of a more tolerant
atmosphere in the South Caucasus. It should also draw from its own
historical experience and show to the people from the region that they
can live together in peace and prosperity and that they can restore
the good relations and trust that historically existed. One of the
main tasks for the EU is to try to persuade the leaders and the people
of the region to support the peaceful initiatives, not the threats,
not the tensions.
From: A. Papazian