Azernews.Az

BAKU – The visit by the European Union member states’ ambassadors to Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan autonomous republic shows "EU's willingness to engage with all regions of Azerbaijan on an equal footing", Roland Kobia, head of the EU delegation to the country, said.

"We believe that a stronger partnership between Nakhchivan and the EU has a lot to offer at many levels. We received a clear message from local authorities as well as civil society organizations calling for more EU engagement in the region," Kobia said at the end of the ambassadors’ visit to Nakhchivan.

He noted that the EU has received assurances from the highest authorities that future visits to Nakhchivan from the European Union and its member states "will always be welcome at any time".

The ambassadors and representatives of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and European Union, held talks in the autonomous republic on Monday and Tuesday. The visit was an opportunity for EU ambassadors to discuss all aspects of their relationship with Nakhchivan, to assess the areas of future cooperation, in the context of the Eastern Partnership program, and to contribute to a better mutual understanding.

The EU indicated its willingness to engage more with the region to contribute to its sustainable development. The ambassadors welcomed and encouraged the development of OSCE projects in Nakhchivan, and identified economic development, education and science as possible areas of future joint collaboration.

During the visit, the EU diplomats met with the Chairman of Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan, Ministers of Internal Affairs, Justice, Economic Development, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ombudsman as well as NGOs and political parties. Topics covered political issues and cooperation in the areas of gender, youth, environment, human rights and democratization.