France, Strasbourg / Тrend corr A. Maharramli / The program of the European Parliament delegation's Baku visit scheduled to 11-15 September has been developed. The visit will take place within the framework of the 8th meeting of the EU-Azerbaijan Inter-parliamentary Cooperation Committee (ICC), according to the Council of Europe (CE).
The delegation which will include Arpad Duka- Zolyomi ( Slovakia), Alessandro Battilocchio ( Italy), Marian-Jean Marinescu (Romaia), Lydie Polfer (Luxemburg) and Johannes Swoboda ( Austria) will be headed by Marie Anne Isler Beguin (France).
In accordance with the itinerary, on 11 September, the ICC Secretariat will meet in the European House in Baku, on 12 September, a meeting with NGO's and media representatives will be held in the same venue. Later a press conference will be held with the attendance of EU members' ambassadors to Azerbaijan. On the same day ICC will meet in the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijani Parliament) and will hold a press conference, as well as meeting with the Azerbaijani President. On 13 September, meetings with Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Justice Minister, the chairman of Caucasus Muslims Clerical Port, as well as the leader of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh will take place. Members of the European Parliament also intend to meet with jailed journalists and the representatives of the Forum of Azerbaijani Students in Europe.
On 14 September, a press conference to include the representatives of Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers and the office of UN High Commissariat on Refugees will be held. Also included in the itinerary is a visit to Sumgayit, a meeting with the representatives of BP-Azerbaijan and a visit to Sangachal terminal.
The Agreement on Cooperation and Partnership between EU and Azerbaijan, the current state of cooperation within the framework of EU's European Neighbourhood Policy, as well as energy cooperation will be discussed during the meeting of ICC. The agenda also includes such issues as political situation in Azerbaijan and constitutional issues, the presidential elections scheduled to 2008, democratic reforms, human rights, freedom of speech and press, reforms in judicial system, Azerbaijan's obligations regarding stable development, as well as economic development of Azerbaijan, environment protection, social issues and reduction of poverty, energy security in the regions of the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. Settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be also considered.
The last seventh meeting of the ICC was held in Strasbourg on 13-14 December. The IIC including Azerbaijani MPs and the members of the European Parliament was established in 1996.