Azernews.Az

BAKU – The European Union is ready to begin negotiating simpified visa regulations with Azerbaijan in the near future, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said during a visit to Baku on Friday.

"This will simplify Azerbaijanis’ travel to the EU countries. In other words, not only markets but also people should be close."

He told a news briefing that simpified visa regulations will facilitate expanding relations between the EU and Azerbaijan.

"The EU and Azerbaijan have a number of issues of common interest. Regional stability and energy security are among them," Barroso said.

The European Commission head said the Eastern Partnership – a program aiming to boost cooperation between the EU and its ex-Soviet partners – defines the framework for bilateral cooperation.

"My visit to Baku is a graphic example of the EU’s commitment to the development of partnership ties with Azerbaijan."

EU-Azerbaijan relations were forged in the early 1990s as part of the European Commission’s TACIS program, which envisions technical assistance to CIS countries. The EU-Azerbaijan cooperation agreement has been in effect since 1999. Since 2003, the parties have also cooperated within the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP).

A new stage began in EU-Azerbaijan relations with the launch of the Eastern Partnership program, proposed by Poland and Sweden in May 2009. The program, which covers Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus, envisages simplified visa regulations, free trade and closer energy cooperation. Membership in the 27-country bloc is not on the agenda at this point.

The European Commission president said human rights and political reform are at the core of EU-Azerbaijan relations and are a guarantor of political stability in the country.

Barroso welcomed the recent release of jailed Azerbaijani bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade.

"Complying with the rules of democracy and the rule of law is crucial. We discussed the issue of bloggers and jailed journalists with President [Ilham] Aliyev yesterday. We had very sincere and open discussions at the meeting," Barroso said, adding that he believes Azerbaijan will meet its international obligations.

Barroso’s visit was the first one paid to Azerbaijan in the capacity of the European Commission head. On Thursday, he co-signed with President Aliyev a declaration that commits the Caspian country to supply Europe with "substantial volumes of gas" to realize the planned Southern Corridor of pipelines bypassing Russia.

Barroso and EU Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger, who was in Baku with him, have left Azerbaijan for Turkmenistan where they are also expected to discuss gas supplies for the Southern Corridor project with the Central Asian state’s leaders.