PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVES EU DELEGATION

07.07.2004 [21:26]
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President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev received the delegation of the European Union led by Commissioner for Enlargement Janez Potocnik on 7 July.

The Head of State pointed out that Azerbaijan is a part of the European Union’s new neighborhood policy and expressed the confidence in further success of bilateral cooperation in the framework of this program. Stressing the Azerbaijan’s integration into the European structures is one of the country’s priorities, President Ilham Aliyev reaffirmed that this policy would be continued in the future. He stated that cooperation with the European Union’s member states would be continued not only in energy sector but in other spheres as well. The President also described as very fruitful his talks on energy cooperation with President of Greece who had lately visited Baku, and with President of Turkey during the recent NATO Summit in Istanbul .

Azerbaijan is a rapidly developing country, which has achieved considerable progress in many industries, President Ilham Aliyev said.

The Azerbaijani leader highly appreciated the activity of the European Union’s Special Envoy for the Southern Caucasus Heike Talvitie, and wished Mr. Janez Potocnik every success during his first visit to Azerbaijan.

Commissioner Janez Potocnik let the President know that he had had very fruitful meetings during the visit, and noted that the European Union considers Azerbaijan as a county of great potential.

Touching upon the processes taking place after the EU’s enlargement, he advised on holding consultations on bringing Turkey closer to the European family. According to him, the enlargement of the European Union requires facing the reality, and building policy towards neighbors on the new basis.

Mr. Potocnik noted as well that in September, the European Union is expected to consider a package of documents on cooperation in the framework of the new Neighborhood Program, as well as to discuss the issues related to fight against international terrorism, poverty reduction and a number of peculiarities of the organization’s policy towards neighbors.

Present at the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Abid Sharifov, Head of the Azerbaijan Representation to the European Union, Ambassador Arif Mammadov.

PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVES EU DELEGATION

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