Azernews.Az

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Commission Vice-President Catherine Ashton visits South Caucasus this week to reaffirm the strong commitment of the European Union to the region, the EU reported.

She started her visit in Azerbaijan on Tuesday, then will continue to Georgia on Wednesday and Armenia on Thursday.

"The main aim of my visit is to show the commitment of the European Union to the South Caucasus," said Catherine Ashton ahead of her visit.

"Over the last year - in the context of the renewed European Neighbourhood Policy and Eastern Partnership - we have engaged in a process of significant strengthening of our relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, including through negotiations of Association Agreements. We are very keen to see the three countries progress with the necessary reforms, with European values as the guiding light. We also want to see steps forward in the resolution of conflicts."

Ashton met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister Arthur Rasi-Zade and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku.

In Tbilisi, she will hold talks with President Mikheil Saakashvili and Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze. She will also meet the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia Andrzej Tyszkiewicz.