Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.18 / Trend , E. Ostapenko /
EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Roland Kobia believes that the Eastern Partnership Program will bring to Azerbaijan not only economic benefits, but also will help start a dialogue with its neighbors, which is a key aspect of solving any conflict.
"The best way of solving any conflict is the willingness to negotiate with opponents. The Eastern Partnership contributes to this dialogue," Kobia said at the debates organized at the Center for Strategic Studies.
The Eastern Partnership Program is a Polish-Swedish initiative under the EU Neighborhood Policy aimed at improving EU relations with six former Soviet countries - Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine and Armenia. The program envisages allocation of 600 million euros to the countries up to 2013 to strengthen state institutions, control of borders and help small businesses. The Eastern Partnership programme was launched at the Heads of State level in May 2009 in Prague.
Though the EU is not directly involved in the process of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the EU is ready to contribute to the regions involved in military operations in order to help people, the ambassador said.
France is one of the OSCE Minsk Group's co-chair states, and has been leading negotiations over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict since 1994, when Armenia and Azerbaijan reached a cease-fire.
According to the ambassador, the Minsk Group is doing everything possible for the successful outcome of the conflict.
"The EU has not had enough opportunities to interfere in the negotiations process. But we are ready to do more if we are asked," the ambassador said.
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 seven surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the United States - are currently holding peace negotiations.
Concerning Eastern Partnership Program prospects, Kobia said the program is an ambitious initiative for both the EU and Azerbaijan. This cooperation will bring tremendous benefits to Azerbaijan and will promote active development.
Some 400 million Manat (350 million EUR) will be given additionally to all six Eastern Partnership countries for the period of 2010-2013, and in the future this amount might be increased, the Ambassador said.
At bilateral level, Eastern Partnership envisages:
- Signing of an association agreement with each country. The procedure with Azerbaijan is scheduled to begin in 2010.
- Creating a free trade zone.
-Simplifying of visa regime between the program's countries and the EU. It is planned to ultimately achieve full abolition of the visa regime and pass to the free movement of citizens between the Eastern Partnership countries and the EU.
- Comprehensive institutional development.
"We can not impose our development model on the country, insisting that it is ideal. We just want to share experiences," Kobia said.