Armenian occupation disables full benefit from Eastern Partnership
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijani foreign minister has blamed the occupation of the country`s lands by Armenia for inability to fully benefit from Eastern Partnership initiative.
Elmar Mammadyarov made the remark at the fifth meeting of the foreign ministers of member states of the EU's "Eastern Partnership" in Brussels on July 22, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said.
"The ongoing occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions by the Republic of Armenia, makes impossible to fully benefit from the multilateral framework of Eastern Partnership," Mammadyarov said.
Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor that caused a brutal war in the early 1990s.
Long-standing efforts by U.S, Russian and French mediators have been largely fruitless so far.
Mammadyarov said Armenia, which exercises overall effective control over the occupied territories of Azerbaijan attempts to consolidate the current status quo and impose a fait accompli practices through sustaining the illegal economic activities in these territories.
He called on the EU to end illegal trading practices with Armenia in occupied territories.
"It came to our attention that goods produced by Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan have been allowed to enter the EU market under various fraudulent labels in contradiction to the rules of origin and the commitments undertaken by Armenia in the World Trade Organization agreements," Mammadyarov said.
He also added that it is a stark violation of WTO obligations by Armenia.
Mammadyarov called upon European partners to undertake all necessary measures to prevent distortive steps by Armenian side.
"Armenia should not enjoy the preferential treatment of the EU when it comes to imposing sanctions and other restrictive measures vis-à-vis those activities," he said.
On the partnership with the EU, Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan is interested in expanding strategic partnership with the EU based on mutual interest.
"Availing itself of the Eastern Partnership tools, Azerbaijan has been successful in strengthening cooperation with EU based on my country's development agenda and priorities," Mammadyarov said.
He said Azerbaijan made considerable efforts to bring in more of the EU best practices and standards as an active contributor to the implementation of Vilnius Summit Declaration.
"We acknowledged the mobility of our citizens in a well-managed and secure environment as an important element of the Eastern Partnership and, therefore, we signed Mobility Partnership, Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements. The last two agreements due to enter into force in the coming months will promote business and cultural contacts between our citizens, as well as help efficiently address migration issues," Mammadyarov said.
As another remarkable development in Euro-integration process, he noted the signature of the Protocol on Azerbaijan's participation in EU programs, which was inked during the June visit of President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barrosso to Azerbaijan.
"This framework document will give Azerbaijani institutions and citizens a greater access to EU programs ranging from education and research to culture, arts and science. We look forward to increasing cooperation between Azerbaijani institutions and relevant EU agencies in capacity building and promoting exchange of expertise in key domains," Mammadyarov said.
He added that Azerbaijan is planning to host a high-level Ministerial Conference on the neighborhood policy of the Council of Europe in Baku in November 2014.
"As a country located at the crossroads of two continents, which enjoys strong historical relations with European and Asian countries, Azerbaijan intends to support Europe's endeavors to ensure more secure and prosperous neighborhood. The Conference will provide a valuable forum for exploring the avenues for a long-term engagement with the countries covered by the neighborhood policy through strengthened political dialogue", Mammadyarov said.
He said another important event that the Azerbaijani chairmanship intends to organize within the EU - Council of Europe cooperation is the celebration event of the European Heritage Days, which is the joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission.
The event scheduled for early October in Baku is meant to give additional impetus to the objectives of the Heritage Days and raise further awareness of the need and importance to protect cultural heritage, he noted.
Mammadyarov further added that Azerbaijan will host the next informal meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers of Energy of the Eastern Partnership in Baku on 8-9 September of this year.