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Brussels hosts EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation Council

08 December 2010 09:11 (UTC +04:00)

The delegation led by the Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmoud Mammadguliyev represented Azerbaijan at the meeting. And the European Union was represented by Hungarian Parliamentary State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Zsolt Nemeth who will realize the EU chairmanship connected with rotation in the first half of 2011 and by European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, Å tefan FÃ¼le.

Before the meeting, Nemets, FÃ¼le and heads of 3 delegations of the South Caucasian countries had a working dinner. Current state and development perspectives of relations between the EU and South Caucasian countries, cooperation within the framework of the Eastern Partnership initiative, especially negotiations process on association agreements with the EU, as well as issues on regulation of existing conflicts in the South Caucasus region were discussed at the dinner.

Thereupon, the 11th meeting of the EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation Council kicked off. Implementation of the EU-Azerbaijan Action Plan, Eastern Partnership initiative, regulation process of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, cooperation issues between the EU-Azerbaijan on energy and transport spheres were reflected on the meetingâ€™s agenda. As it was shown in the Action Plan, importance of conducting the EU-Azerbaijan relations on the basis of territorial integrity of countries and with respect to state sovereignty was especially noted. Current state of negotiations related to regulation of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict was discussed as well.

Moreover, views were exchanged on works done in the direction of strengthening democracy, human rights and freedom of press in Azerbaijan and on November 7 parliamentary elections. EU representatives welcomed the decision of Azerbaijani courts on release of Emin Abdullayev and Adnan Hajizadeh from prison.

It was noted that works implemented in the framework of the Eastern partnership initiative would stimulate development of further relations between the EU and its eastern partners.

Moreover, by discussing cooperation issue between the EU and Azerbaijan in energy sphere, it was underlined that Azerbaijan was one of the important supports in diversification of European energy security and energy carriers.