EU DELEGATION HEAD: EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT TO DISCUSS NAGORNO KARABAKH DURING VISIT TO AZERBAIJAN
Trend
June 1 2012
Azerbaijan
President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy is coming to
Azerbaijan on the presidential visit, head of the EU office in Baku
Roland Kobia told journalists on Friday.
"Rompuy is coming to Baku on July 5 in the framework of regional
visit also," Kobia said.
He said that it will be the first visit of Rompuy to the region
and Azerbaijan.
"And this I think is a concrete sign of continuous willingness of
Europe to engage with Azerbaijan," Kobia added.
He said Rompuy will discuss all important issues, in particular
Nagorno Karabakh.
"As you know, President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel
Barroso and European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs
and Security Policy Catherine Ashton have said the EU is ready to
give support to the process and help the Minsk Group," Kobia said.
He also expressed his confidence that Rompuy will give the same
message.
"We have very wide agenda with Azerbaijan, so, President Rompuy will
deal with all issues of our cooperation," he added.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the US -
are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
The relations between Azerbaijan and the EU are based on the Agreement
on Partnership and Cooperation signed in Luxembourg in 1996. It
entered into force in 1999.
In 2009, Foreign Ministers of the EU countries provided the EU
Commission with a mandate to start negotiations to conclude the EU
bilateral association agreements with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
These agreements will be a new practical instrument which will replace
the bilateral action plans.
Trend
June 1 2012
Azerbaijan
President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy is coming to
Azerbaijan on the presidential visit, head of the EU office in Baku
Roland Kobia told journalists on Friday.
"Rompuy is coming to Baku on July 5 in the framework of regional
visit also," Kobia said.
He said that it will be the first visit of Rompuy to the region
and Azerbaijan.
"And this I think is a concrete sign of continuous willingness of
Europe to engage with Azerbaijan," Kobia added.
He said Rompuy will discuss all important issues, in particular
Nagorno Karabakh.
"As you know, President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel
Barroso and European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs
and Security Policy Catherine Ashton have said the EU is ready to
give support to the process and help the Minsk Group," Kobia said.
He also expressed his confidence that Rompuy will give the same
message.
"We have very wide agenda with Azerbaijan, so, President Rompuy will
deal with all issues of our cooperation," he added.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the US -
are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
The relations between Azerbaijan and the EU are based on the Agreement
on Partnership and Cooperation signed in Luxembourg in 1996. It
entered into force in 1999.
In 2009, Foreign Ministers of the EU countries provided the EU
Commission with a mandate to start negotiations to conclude the EU
bilateral association agreements with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
These agreements will be a new practical instrument which will replace
the bilateral action plans.