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EU NOT TO 'STAND ASIDE' ON KARABAKH
Leyla Tagiyeva News.Az
news.az
Feb 28 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az catches the EU's outgoing special representative for the
South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, for a brief interview.
On 1 March you end your mission as EU special envoy for the South
Caucasus. What has happened in the past five years to bring Azerbaijan,
a country with an Islamic mentality but seeking European integration,
closer to European standards?
This is a complex issue in the sense that the answer is composed of
many parts. The fact that Europe has a better understanding of the
situation in the region and Azerbaijan, that direct economic interests
are growing and so on, the fact that the EU is growing aware that the
development of this neighbouring region mostly affects the European
Union are difficult to measure, but these are quite significant
changes which give Azerbaijan more stable ground for relations with
one of the country's most important partners.
As part of the negotiation process, which is currently proceeding
under the association agreement, there are a number of more specific
issues that will have a direct impact on Azerbaijan. These are economic
reforms, modernization, political reforms, these relate to freedom
of movement, which is also on the agenda. This is certainly a long
process, but the fact that it is also on the agenda means a great
deal to both parties, since the development of human contacts will
eventually ensure more stable relations.
A question on Azerbaijan's main problem - the Armenian occupation of
part of its land: Baku has recently been indignant at what it sees
as passivity in Brussels on a settlement. The row over the incomplete
reporting by the EU website of Jose Manual Barroso's remarks in Baku
about territorial integrity also caused annoyance. Do you think a
conflict settlement will come soon and what role can the EU play in it?
I hope significant steps will be made on a conflict settlement, even
possibly in the near future, but I think that much remains to be
done before a complete solution can be achieved. We need to promote
the process.
As for the EU~Rs direct participation in a resolution, we make no
claims on the role of the OSCE Minsk Group, but this does not mean
we will or should stand aside. The EU has many means to support
and assist its partners, which are the Minsk Group co-chairs, on a
resolution of the conflict.
The fact that the European Union is actively developing its ties with
all the South Caucasus countries also means the EU has direct interest
in the stabilization of the situation. This also has a positive impact
on our readiness to make a contribution to a settlement.
From: A. Papazian
Leyla Tagiyeva News.Az
news.az
Feb 28 2011
Azerbaijan
News.Az catches the EU's outgoing special representative for the
South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, for a brief interview.
On 1 March you end your mission as EU special envoy for the South
Caucasus. What has happened in the past five years to bring Azerbaijan,
a country with an Islamic mentality but seeking European integration,
closer to European standards?
This is a complex issue in the sense that the answer is composed of
many parts. The fact that Europe has a better understanding of the
situation in the region and Azerbaijan, that direct economic interests
are growing and so on, the fact that the EU is growing aware that the
development of this neighbouring region mostly affects the European
Union are difficult to measure, but these are quite significant
changes which give Azerbaijan more stable ground for relations with
one of the country's most important partners.
As part of the negotiation process, which is currently proceeding
under the association agreement, there are a number of more specific
issues that will have a direct impact on Azerbaijan. These are economic
reforms, modernization, political reforms, these relate to freedom
of movement, which is also on the agenda. This is certainly a long
process, but the fact that it is also on the agenda means a great
deal to both parties, since the development of human contacts will
eventually ensure more stable relations.
A question on Azerbaijan's main problem - the Armenian occupation of
part of its land: Baku has recently been indignant at what it sees
as passivity in Brussels on a settlement. The row over the incomplete
reporting by the EU website of Jose Manual Barroso's remarks in Baku
about territorial integrity also caused annoyance. Do you think a
conflict settlement will come soon and what role can the EU play in it?
I hope significant steps will be made on a conflict settlement, even
possibly in the near future, but I think that much remains to be
done before a complete solution can be achieved. We need to promote
the process.
As for the EU~Rs direct participation in a resolution, we make no
claims on the role of the OSCE Minsk Group, but this does not mean
we will or should stand aside. The EU has many means to support
and assist its partners, which are the Minsk Group co-chairs, on a
resolution of the conflict.
The fact that the European Union is actively developing its ties with
all the South Caucasus countries also means the EU has direct interest
in the stabilization of the situation. This also has a positive impact
on our readiness to make a contribution to a settlement.
From: A. Papazian