Heading changed and sum of funds allocated to Azerbaijan by the EU was added (the first version was posted at 11:51)
Azerbaijan, Baku, May 18 / Trend, M. Aliyev /
The "Eastern Partnership" project will provide wide political opportunities for Azerbaijan, Head of EU Delegation, Ambassador Roland Kobia said at the International Conference on the topic "Eastern Partnership after two years: progress and difficulties ", which kicked off in Baku on Wednesday.
He said Azerbaijan and the EU have 15-year partnership, but "Eastern Partnership" will help accelerate the integration of six members of the project.
The "Eastern Partnership" aims at removing the obstacles that put existing borders between people," Kobia said. He believes that this project is aimed at addressing regional problems.
Enumerating the problems that exist within the "Eastern Partnership project", Kobia stressed that the discussions with Azerbaijan have not yet begun on creating free economic zones.
He also said that the amount of funds allocated to Azerbaijan by the European Union within "Eastern Partnership" will be increased by 75 percent next year.
Kobia undercored that this year the EU will allocate 100 million euros to Azerbaijan within "Eastern Partnership".
Head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's Department for Human Rights, Democratization and Humanitarian Problems Alimirzamin Asgarov said at the conference that the Eastern Partnership creates opportunities for both bilateral and multilateral cooperation. He expressed hope that negotiations will begin on visa facilitation with the EU by late 2011.
The next round of negotiations on an association agreement will be held in late June in Baku, Roland Kobia told journalists in Baku on Wednesday.