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Prospects of Azerbaijan-EU cooperation discussed

01 February 2014 11:15 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Aynur Aliyeva - APA-Economics. Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy and Industry, chairman of the State Commission on European Integration Shahin Mustafayev met with Head of the European Union Delegation to Azerbaijan Malena Mard.

The Ministry's press service told APA-Economics that the meeting focused on the current relations and prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and EU, other issues of mutual interest.

Shahin Mustafayev said Azerbaijan and EU have diversified relations, EU is the major trade partner of Azerbaijan and underlined that Azerbaijan plays an important role in Europe's energy security.

It was said that Azerbaijan and EU have signed Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, Action Plan within the European Neighbourhood Policy, Eastern Partnership Initiative, Visa Facilitation Agreement and other important documents.

Discussions are underway on other cooperation documents between Azerbaijan and EU. Azerbaijan intends to improve cooperation with the European countries built on mutual respect. In this respect, 2014 is important to determine the format of Azerbaijan-EU strategic relations.

The sides underlined the importance of Azerbaijan's State Commission on European Integration, Twinning, TAIEX, Sigma, budget support assistance tool in the development of relations between the European Union and Azerbaijan.

Giving information about Azerbaijan's socio-economic development and its role in the region, Shahin Mustafayev said our country is the initiator and major participant of the projects implemented in the region, 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories have been occupied as a result of Armenia's aggressive policy, Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict is the most serious obstacle to the regional integration.

Malena Mard underlined the importance of enhancing cooperation between Azerbaijan and EU.