POLITICS
EU ‘INTERESTED’ IN COOPERATION WITH AZERBAIJAN
Baku, March 3 (AZERTAC). Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain, which currently holds the European Union`s rotating presidency, Miguel Angel Moratinos has expressed the EU`s interest in cooperation with Azerbaijan.
Speaking following a meeting with Azeri FM Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku, Moratinos said his trip to South Caucasus was an evidence to how much importance the organization placed on its relationship with regional countries, in particular Azerbaijan.
“We in particular are interested in energy cooperation with Azerbaijan which is rich with energy resources.”
“Today we`ve also discussed the signing of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Azerbaijan.”
“I hope the agreement will be signed in the near future,” added Moratinos.
The Spanish FM touched upon the issue of simplification of visa regime between Azerbaijan and the organization, saying it was among priority issues.
Moratinos also touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, stressing the importance of reaching soonest solution to the dispute.
The Spanish FM expressed the EU`s readiness to provide “every support” to the OSCE Minsk Group which mediates talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Azeri FM Mammadyarov said they stressed during the meeting that the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute had to be solved on the basis of international legal norms, in particular Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity.
Mammadyarov said he also discussed with Moratinos Azerbaijan`s relations with the European Union, particularly cooperation within Eastern Partnership Program.