Details were added after the first paragraph (the version was posted at 12:24 p.m.)
Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 3 / S. Agayeva /
The EU Eastern Partnership Program will bring Azerbaijan not only economic benefits but also assist in launching a dialogue with its neighbors. This is a key aspect to solving any conflict, Jolt Cutore, the Hungarian ambassador to Azerbaijan, said.
Hungary currently holds the EU presidency.
The "Eastern Partnership" program is a strategical important way of intensifying and strengthening relations between the EU and partner countries. Its purpose is to help the countries of Eastern Europe and South Caucasus in the rapprochement and gradual integration into the European Union ", the diplomat said in an interview with Trend.
He said that the "Eastern Partnership" program is designed to promote the cooperation in such areas as human rights, market economy, sustainable development, effective governance, energy security and others, the ambassador said.
The main purpose of the "Eastern Partnership" program is to achieve a political union, to establish bilateral deep and comprehensive free trade area between the EU and partner countries, the successive steps to liberalize the visa regime. "Eastern Partnership" also encourages the development and strengthening of contacts between people and scientific-cultural cooperation.
He said that the initiative has important economic and political importance for Hungary and Azerbaijan. It must open up additional opportunities for business development, trade, services and people.
"I think that "Eastern Partnership" program will bring Azerbaijan not only economic benefits but assist in launching a dialogue with its neighbors. This is the key aspect to solve any conflict," the ambassador said.
He said that the program envisages allocating of 600 million euros to the countries until 2013 to strengthen state institutions, control of borders and help small enterprises. This amount may be increased in the future. The program is an ambitious initiative for the EU and Azerbaijan. This cooperation will bring great benefit to the Republic of Azerbaijan and will promote the active development, Hungarian diplomat said.
In May 2010, Azerbaijani-EU relations entered a new phase with a partnership within the framework of the EU Eastern Partnership Program initiated by Poland and Sweden.
The Eastern Partnership is aimed at the political and economic rapprochement of six post-Soviet states - Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus - and the EU. The program does not provide opportunities for EU membership, but involves facilitating the visa regime, energy cooperation and the introduction of free trade zones.
The small projects on student exchange, environmental protection, energy supply will be also implemented.
Priorities of Hungary's presidency in EU
Hungary takes over chairmanship in the Council of Ministers in Brussels in the first half of 2011, for the first time since joining the EU.
Ambassador said that the priorities of the Hungarian presidency are the following: the development to preserve the European social model, stronger Europe, Union, friendly towards the citizens; enlargement and good neighborliness policy.
Hungary would like to pay special attention to the further enlargement of the process and ensure the integration prospects for the Western Balkan region. One of the priorities is to strengthen the Eastern Dimension of the Neighbourhood Policy, under which Hungary will lead the second summit of the "Eastern Partnership" in May 2011, he said.
Azerbaijan-Hungary political relations
"Regarding political relations between Hungary and Azerbaijan, I am pleased with saying that they are not burdened by conflicts, disagreements. They are gradually developing in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding based on common principles indicated in the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as numerous documents signed by the European Union on the one hand, Hungary is its member since 2004, and Azerbaijan, on the other hand", he said.
He said that the numerous mutual visits by high-ranking delegations testify to the development of bilateral relations. "Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly visited Budapest. Hungarian politicians, state leaders often visit their Azerbaijani colleagues. First of all, Hungarian Foreign Affairs State Secretary Zsolt Németh is expected to visit Azerbaijan in February. Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi also plant to visit Azerbaijan in February, the diplomat said.