Azernews.Az

BAKU – European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek has started a three-day official visit to the South Caucasus to discuss a wide range of issues with the regional countries including democracy and conflicts, according to the European Union Delegation to Azerbaijan.

The European Parliament head, who arrived in Yerevan on Wednesday, will hold meetings with the presidents and parliament speakers in all three countries. Buzek will also meet with opposition leaders, journalists and representatives of civil society.

Ahead of the visit Buzek said democracy and human rights would top the agenda of talks.

"Advancing democracy, embracing human rights, fostering the rule of law, strengthening stability and increasing prosperity is the task for the partnership of all; the European Union and its Eastern partners."

Buzek said the EU had created the Eastern Partnership, a program that aims to boost the bloc’s cooperation with its ex-Soviet partners, "to eliminate any remaining dividing lines".

"It is a genuine attempt to break through the last existing walls, to enable cooperation between our peoples. By being closer to our neighbors we are stronger together on the global stage. My message for this visit is about engagement, looking for mutually beneficial solutions, enlarging and strengthening the area of security and stability on the European continent, our common home."

Buzek said that during his visit to the region he would also discuss with the leaders the possibilities of peaceful resolution of the frozen conflicts "which for too many years have been pulling down" the development of the area and cooperation between the countries of the region. He said he also intended to raise the issue of energy security, which is one of the priorities of his mandate.

Buzek will head to Tbilisi on Thursday and visit Baku on Friday.