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PROGRESS IN AZERBAIJAN-EU TALKS DEPENDS ON BRUSSELS POSITION ON KARABAKH
news.az, Azerbaijan
Sept 9 2011
News.Az interviews Mahmud Mammadquliyev, Azerbaijan's deputy foreign
minister.
What can you say about the process of talks between Azerbaijan and
EU as part of the associative agreement?
The plenary session was suggested to hold in summer but it was put
off which is why we held video conferences on different issues. As
late July-August is the time of rest in Europe, probably, the video
conferences will resume in mid September. Meanwhile, on 5-6 October
there is a plan to hold the next plenary session of the negotiation
group on associative agreement in Baku. Before it, on 23 September, the
committee for cooperation between Azerbaijan and European commission
will hold a session.
What will be the agenda of the session?
It will reflect most issues because it is the main mechanism of our
cooperation. It will include the issues related to conflict, energy,
human rights and so on. The agenda is quite high and discussions are
scheduled for the whole day.
By the way, they say that the Karabakh issue remains aloof in
Azerbaijan's negotiations with EU and to some extent hampers the
negotiation process in other directions of cooperation given the
special position of Brussels. Is it right?
Naturally, this issue is important for Azerbaijan, which is why
at the negotiations on associative agreement as part of the first
section devoted to the issues of security and political dialogue,
we set this issue. There is nothing surprising here, considering the
fact that this problem is very actual for us, it is a serious question
and you know it well and there is no sense to speak about it.
We believe that it is the most important issue. And we tell our
partners that all the rest issues can be coordinated depending on
whether we agree on this one and whether it is reflected in this
associative agreement in terms of Azerbaijani stance. It is a vitally
important issue to us, we do not conceal it and we tell it openly to
all our partners from EU.
There are many opinions about which of the six post-Soviet countries
participating in the Eastern Partnership initiative progressed more
in negotiations with Brussels or become closer to Europe. Is this
comparison appropriate and overall, how do you assess Azerbaijan's
European integration as part of Eastern Partnership?
You know we continue our work and are working in all directions.
Someone compares something to something, saying that a country
is already working at a free trade agreement and so on, while the
situation seems different with Azerbaijan. But Azerbaijan is not a WTO
member while the European Union set membership in this organization
as one of the provisions. We cannot change anything here and if they
have set this provision, let it be so.
On the other hand, the matter is whether this trade agreement is
economically expedient for both sides. I consider it wrong if someone
believes that any country has progressed more.
There are issues on which some countries have really advanced more in
the process of easing visa regime with the EU. But what should we do?
We have been waiting for the EU mandate to start talks for already a
year, though we have fulfilled all we have asked for, all materials
and documents have been provided, the missions were in our country and
familiarized with the situation. But it turns out that the Brussels
has not yet issued the mandate.
Therefore, I do not agree with such a formulation of the question.
Someone has advanced more in something and we have progressed in
other issues. For example, the energy issue. Today, everyone say that
Azerbaijan is very important for EU in terms of creation of the South
Gas Corridor and we are working with them in this sense.
Every country has some advantages, some specifics, which is why
colligation is unnecessary.
news.az, Azerbaijan
Sept 9 2011
News.Az interviews Mahmud Mammadquliyev, Azerbaijan's deputy foreign
minister.
What can you say about the process of talks between Azerbaijan and
EU as part of the associative agreement?
The plenary session was suggested to hold in summer but it was put
off which is why we held video conferences on different issues. As
late July-August is the time of rest in Europe, probably, the video
conferences will resume in mid September. Meanwhile, on 5-6 October
there is a plan to hold the next plenary session of the negotiation
group on associative agreement in Baku. Before it, on 23 September, the
committee for cooperation between Azerbaijan and European commission
will hold a session.
What will be the agenda of the session?
It will reflect most issues because it is the main mechanism of our
cooperation. It will include the issues related to conflict, energy,
human rights and so on. The agenda is quite high and discussions are
scheduled for the whole day.
By the way, they say that the Karabakh issue remains aloof in
Azerbaijan's negotiations with EU and to some extent hampers the
negotiation process in other directions of cooperation given the
special position of Brussels. Is it right?
Naturally, this issue is important for Azerbaijan, which is why
at the negotiations on associative agreement as part of the first
section devoted to the issues of security and political dialogue,
we set this issue. There is nothing surprising here, considering the
fact that this problem is very actual for us, it is a serious question
and you know it well and there is no sense to speak about it.
We believe that it is the most important issue. And we tell our
partners that all the rest issues can be coordinated depending on
whether we agree on this one and whether it is reflected in this
associative agreement in terms of Azerbaijani stance. It is a vitally
important issue to us, we do not conceal it and we tell it openly to
all our partners from EU.
There are many opinions about which of the six post-Soviet countries
participating in the Eastern Partnership initiative progressed more
in negotiations with Brussels or become closer to Europe. Is this
comparison appropriate and overall, how do you assess Azerbaijan's
European integration as part of Eastern Partnership?
You know we continue our work and are working in all directions.
Someone compares something to something, saying that a country
is already working at a free trade agreement and so on, while the
situation seems different with Azerbaijan. But Azerbaijan is not a WTO
member while the European Union set membership in this organization
as one of the provisions. We cannot change anything here and if they
have set this provision, let it be so.
On the other hand, the matter is whether this trade agreement is
economically expedient for both sides. I consider it wrong if someone
believes that any country has progressed more.
There are issues on which some countries have really advanced more in
the process of easing visa regime with the EU. But what should we do?
We have been waiting for the EU mandate to start talks for already a
year, though we have fulfilled all we have asked for, all materials
and documents have been provided, the missions were in our country and
familiarized with the situation. But it turns out that the Brussels
has not yet issued the mandate.
Therefore, I do not agree with such a formulation of the question.
Someone has advanced more in something and we have progressed in
other issues. For example, the energy issue. Today, everyone say that
Azerbaijan is very important for EU in terms of creation of the South
Gas Corridor and we are working with them in this sense.
Every country has some advantages, some specifics, which is why
colligation is unnecessary.