Azerbaijan, Baku, February 18 / Trend , U.Sadikhova/
Azerbaijan and Poland have extensive opportunities to strengthen relationships within the European Union's Eastern Partnership, the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov said today, the official statement of the Foreign Ministry reported.
Receiving the Head of the National Security Bureau of Poland Alexander Shchiglo on Feb. 18, the Foreign Minister said that between the countries there is a high level of development of relations in political, economic, humanitarian spheres, as well as cooperation within the international organizations.
According to the minister, the Azerbaijani-Polish relations can further develop as part of Eastern Partnership.
Eastern Partnership is a Polish-Swedish initiative under the neighborhood policy, aimed at improving the EU's relations with former Soviet countries. The program was approved at the meeting of the EU on 20 March 2009. Founding summit of the Eastern Partnership was held 7 May last year. The program covers six countries neighboring the European Union: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus. Under the program, the EU will provide neighboring countries 600 million euros in 2009-2013 respectively.
Shchiglo, which made his first visit to Azerbaijan, said that the Azerbaijani-Polish relations have the opportunity to expand in all areas. On the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, Shchiglo mentioned his country's support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az
