European official offers Azeri president to mull Eastern Partnership
The European Union`s Special Representative for the
South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, has invited Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev to visit Brussels in late April to hold talks on the
Eastern Partnership, a program that foresees Europe`s closer
cooperation with its ex-Soviet neighbors. Semneby made the
announcement at a press conference held in Baku on Monday.
He emphasized that simplifying visa regulations was one of the key aspects of cooperation between the EU and participating states and that related issues would be discussed during the Azerbaijani president`s visit.
The Eastern Partnership initiative, floated by Poland and Sweden, covers Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. Besides simplified visa regulations, the EU is offering free trade and closer energy cooperation to the six states, although membership in the bloc is not being discussed. Participating countries are required to bring their laws into compliance with EU standards, pursue economic reforms and bolster democratic development.
Semneby said the Eastern Partnership was pivotal for Azerbaijan and other countries as it seeks to foster closer relations not only with the 27-member bloc but also among the participants. "The Eastern Partnership might help to iron out some outstanding differences of opinion among the South Caucasus states", Semneby noted.
Azerbaijan and Armenia - two regional states - have been facing a nearly two decade-long conflict.
The Eastern Partnership is to be endorsed at a summit in Prague on May 7. Following his visit to Brussels, President Aliyev is expected to head to the Czech Republic.
He emphasized that simplifying visa regulations was one of the key aspects of cooperation between the EU and participating states and that related issues would be discussed during the Azerbaijani president`s visit.
The Eastern Partnership initiative, floated by Poland and Sweden, covers Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. Besides simplified visa regulations, the EU is offering free trade and closer energy cooperation to the six states, although membership in the bloc is not being discussed. Participating countries are required to bring their laws into compliance with EU standards, pursue economic reforms and bolster democratic development.
Semneby said the Eastern Partnership was pivotal for Azerbaijan and other countries as it seeks to foster closer relations not only with the 27-member bloc but also among the participants. "The Eastern Partnership might help to iron out some outstanding differences of opinion among the South Caucasus states", Semneby noted.
Azerbaijan and Armenia - two regional states - have been facing a nearly two decade-long conflict.
The Eastern Partnership is to be endorsed at a summit in Prague on May 7. Following his visit to Brussels, President Aliyev is expected to head to the Czech Republic.
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