Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

The UK Minister for Europe, David Lidington, said London supported closer ties between EU and Azerbaijan.

Lidington, who is also a member of UK parliament, noted that the UK-Azerbaijani relations had developed over the past 20 years. He added that currently the UK is responsible for over 50 percent of all foreign direct investment (FDI) in Azerbaijan, AzerTag state news agency reported.

Azerbaijan has always been a westward-facing country and its ruling New Azerbaijan Party announced its willingness to join the European People's Party (EPP) which supported the positions of Christian Democratic and Liberal Conservative parties.

Lidington said UK had opted in the Council of Europe's decisions on Protocol and Co-operation Agreements between the European communities and their member states.

In the first instance, this will see Azerbaijan in the Fiscalis 2020 Union and Customs 2020 Union action programs which facilitate information and expertise exchanges on the development of IT-based taxation and customs systems.

"Azerbaijan and the wider South Caucasus region are of strategic importance for the UK and EU. The UK is the largest foreign direct investor in what is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Continued stability in this region is a key for the UK's prosperity and energy security goals, and it is therefore in our interests to promote EU-Azerbaijani engagement," he said.

"Azerbaijan's access to EU programs provides an opportunity for closer engagement with the EU and promotes continued reforms towards European standards. More broadly, the UK remains a strong supporter of Azerbaijan's progression towards closer ties with the EU as part of our longstanding support for strengthened ties in the Eastern Neighborhood region."

The UK recognized Azerbaijan's independence in December, 1991. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in March, 1992.

Azerbaijan and the UK have benefited from close bilateral partnership and cooperation since 1992, in the framework of international organizations such as the United Nations, OSCE, Council of Europe, and NATO. The relations have covered a wide range of issues, from high-level political dialogue to growing trade and investment, as well as strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties.

Economic cooperation between the two countries, especially in the energy sector, is at the core of the relations between Azerbaijan and the UK. The UK is the largest foreign direct investor in Azerbaijan, followed by the U.S. and Japan.

Azerbaijan cooperates with the UK in the exploration and transportation of oil and natural gas from the Azerbaijani part of the Caspian Sea.