Brussels hosts fourth ministerial meeting of European Union and Eastern Partnership
Baku, July 23 (AZERTAC). The fourth ministerial meeting of the European Union and the Eastern Partnership has been held in Brussels.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov attended the meeting, which was co-chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fule.
The meeting was attended by foreign ministers of the EU member states, European External Action Service, European Investment Bank, foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine as well as the representative of Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum.
The participants discussed the current state of the Eastern Partnership, achievements gained since the Warsaw Summit, preparations for the 3rd Eastern Partnership to be held in Vilnius and prospects of cooperation after the summit.
The Azerbaijani FM provided an insight into Azerbaijan`s role in the Eastern Partnership and cooperation dialogue with the European Union and stressed the need for the European Union to fulfil its obligations in relation to supporting sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan that was stipulated in the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan in 2006.
Mr. Mammadyarov stressed that prospects for EU-Azerbaijan dialogue and the progress in negotiations in Association Agreement would be realized on the basis of principles such as mutual respect and partnership. He recalled the meeting of President Ilham Aliyev with President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission Jose Barroso.
The FM stressed recent decisions taken in connection with the Southern Gas Corridor will play an exceptional role in strengthening energy security of the EU and will open up new opportunities to enhance political and economic ties with the European Union.
Mr. Mammadyarov also added that negotiations on Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreement between Azerbaijan and the EU is nearing completion and underlined the importance of signing these agreements till the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. He emphasized the need to further advance education cooperation with the EU and proposed that serious steps are taken in that sphere the frame of EU-Azerbaijan cooperation. He also proposed that opportunities be explored in Eastern Partnership format in order to strengthen gender equality and increase women's role in society.
The FM held separate meetings with his Greek and Ukrainian counterparts to discuss prospects for expanding bilateral relations.
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