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Alan Waddams: Joining the Eastern Partnership initiative will increase Azerbaijanâ€™s chances to enter the European Union

28 November 2008 12:25 (UTC +04:00)

Alan Waddams said that it was impossible to say how the processes would develop in future.
â€œIf the processes develop after Azerbaijanâ€™s joining the Eastern Partnership, various variants on EU-Azerbaijan cooperation can be discussed,â€ he said.

According to Alan Waddams the country joining Eastern Partnership, which covers European integration, will be considered very close to the European Union.
â€œThe communiquÃ© offers to establish common market. This is a more long-lasting strategy. But first of all it envisages establishment of free trade zone. Before this the countries should join the World Trade Organization. Afterwards the European Unionâ€™s Directive should be adopted by the states,â€ he said.

Ambassador also underlined that the Eastern Partnership would solve the problems concerning visa regime.
â€œSimplification of visa procedures, free travel can also be solved within the framework of this program. Establishing a common center for eliminating visa problem is also among the proposals,â€ he said.

Alan Waddams said the document also covered human rights, democracy, rule of law and other issues.
â€œThere are also certain commitments in the document,â€ he said.