Ministry of Foreign Affaires of the Republic of Azerbaijan Press-release
15 July, 2002
On
12th of July 2002, the third meeting of the EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation
Committee took place in Brussels. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Araz Azimov has led the Azerbaijani delegation in this meeting.
During
the meeting parties have discussed the process of implementation of the
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan and
agreed on reviewing the progress in the Cooperation Council meeting in
September of this year, which is the highest bilateral institution having
the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan on one side and the President
of the Council of the European Union on the other. Stressing the paramount
importance of the implementation of the PCA in the light of the current
political and economic reforms carried out in Azerbaijan, the EU has also
noted that successful implementation of the PCA will open up the way to
Azerbaijan to further integrate into the European structures.
While
discussing the EU assistance to Azerbaijan within Tacis and other programs,
both parties have stressed that this assistance should further be aimed
at support to the integrity and development of Azerbaijan and the sustainability
of the projects have to be ensured.
The
EU and Azerbaijan have agreed to seek to co-operate closely against terrorism,
illegal migration and trafficking in human beings and drugs, proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction and in the sphere of border control.
The
EU has expressed its belief that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the
failure to resolve it have a strong negative impact on the political and
economic development and security of Azerbaijan and the whole region.
Confirming once more its intention to play an active role in the region,
the EU has noted that it will look for further ways in which to support
efforts at prevention and resolution of conflicts in the region, and will
participate in post-conflict rehabilitation.
Furthermore
the parties stressed the following in the conclusions of the meeting:
"The
EU stresses the importance of a peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict in full respect of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.
Both
parties agreed that fait accompli may not serve as a basis for a settlement,
and stressed that neither the current situation within the occupied areas
of the Republic of Azerbaijan, nor any action undertaken there to consolidate
the status-quo, may be recognized as legally valid.
The
EU welcomed the proposal of Azerbaijan on withdrawal of Armenian armed
forces from occupied territories of Fizuli, Jabrail, Zangelan and Gubatly,
enabling rehabilitation of these regions, in combination with restoration
of the Baky-Nakhchivan-Yerevan railway, which presents a unique package
of measures for settlement of the conflict and reestablishment of cooperation,
and called for this opportunity to be taken to remove the situation from
the current stalemate"
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