POLITICS
JOHN SMITH'S MEMORIAL FUND GIVES GREAT VALUE TO COOPERATION WITH AZERBAIJAN
At the meeting, exchanged were opinions on activity of the Memorial Fund and Educational Program carried out by him.
Having informed, that the basic purposes of Fund consist in encouragement of democracy and professional management in the countries, wishing to apply the western model of democracy, the visitor has noted that the great value is given to cooperation with Azerbaijan on John Smith Educational Program. It has been marked that now the Fund carries out activity in 7 countries of the post-Soviet space, including in Azerbaijan. Educational Program of the Fund acquaints talented youth with political and public institutes, political system of the United Kingdom and the experience saved up in the given areas. It has been noted that among 21 participants on Educational Program of Fund for in 2005 there are 3 Azerbaijanis.
Minister E. Mammadyarov highly has estimated cooperation with John Smith Educational program, has noted, that participation in such programs of youth of the country confidently following on the way of construction of civil society, represents great value.
At the meeting, the sides had wide exchange of opinions on political processes proceeding in the world - situations in the Near East, Iraq and Afghanistan, the questions connected to integration of Turkey in the European Union, including on the contribution which will be brought by Turkey to the Union in case of its admission in EU, about priority directions of foreign policy of the country - cooperation in frameworks of the “New Neighborhood Policy“ Europe, connections with the NATO and the Plan of Activity on individual partnership, about the present condition of process of negotiations on peace settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and also on other questions.
At the meeting, also was present the ambassador of the Great Britain in Azerbaijan Lawrence Bristow and director of the John Smith Memorial Fund Ms. Emma Maklenna.