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EU supported Azerbaijan's territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders - MFA

16 December 2021 22:56 (UTC +04:00)

"The declaration reflects a number of issues of importance to Azerbaijan, including the EU's support for the territorial integrity of all partner countries, including Azerbaijan, within its internationally recognized borders. The completion of the Southern Gas Corridor project is welcomed in terms of its contribution to the diversification of supply sources and routes," Leyla Abdullayeva, head of press service of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said this while answering the media's question on Azerbaijan's condition of joining the Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit, APA reports.

Leyla Abdullayeva said that the joint declaration also called for global solidarity, enhanced cooperation, and multilateralism in preventing the pandemic, mitigating and eliminating its consequences: "This is in line with the priorities of our country's chairmanship in the Non-Aligned Movement to combat COVID-19. We would also like to emphasize that Azerbaijan has always opposed the establishment of the Eastern Partnership program in a confrontational context. This principle is reflected in the Joint Declaration itself. It is noted that the EaP is based on constructive cooperation and is not directed against anyone. Our country's position is that EU member states and partner countries should not bring the challenges and difficulties in their relations with third countries to the EaP program. On the other hand, the EaP program should serve not only the relations of partner countries with the EU, but also the development of relations between them. The EaP program should not pursue policies that undermine the high-level relations that partner countries have established with third countries outside the program.

Due to the fact that the views expressed on Belarus in the Joint Declaration do not comply with the principles of Azerbaijan's foreign policy, Azerbaijan has adopted the Joint Declaration on its own terms. In other words, Azerbaijan did not share the position on Belarus in paragraph 11.

Another condition of Azerbaijan was related to "territories affected by the conflict" in the technical appendix of the Joint Declaration. According to the document, the EU will support organizations operating outside the capitals, in areas affected by the conflict. Azerbaijan stressed the need to carry out activities in these areas at the request and with the consent of the country to which the territory belongs. This position is based directly on international law and the sovereign rights of states."