'EU-Azerbaijan security and integration' conference arranged in Baku

“EU-Azerbaijan security and integration” international conference took place in Baku organized by the Center for Strategic Studies under the Azerbaijani President (SAM) and the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS).

Speaking at the event, SAM Director Farhad Mammadov hailed the organization’s relations with CEPS.

“EU’s activities in the Caucasus are increasing yearly. We are cooperating with EU institutions in a number of fields, including security and energy, as well as in settling the Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”

CEPS Chief Executive Hans Martens said organizing this international conference at the time when poverty and jobless rates increased in Europe was of profound importance. Praising Azerbaijan’s progress as rapid, he noted European countries have to pay a special attention to the relations with “this unique country”. “Political stability and peaceful circumstances are very important for the European countries as well as its neighbors.”

Roland Kobia, EU representative in Azerbaijan, stressed the significance of the conference. He praised Azerbaijan`s international prestige, saying it is is increasing. “The EU and Azerbaijan are working together in a number of fields including security,” Kobia said.

He also hailed Azerbaijan’s role in energy security. The EU representative said one of the most important issues to be resolved is the visa facilitation.

Kobia noted that Azerbaijan was a country where wise and successful policy was conducted.
He said he supports the OSCE Minsk Group’s position on the Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Vaidotas Verba, Director of the Caucasus Research Resource Center Gursal Aliyev and Editor-in-Chief of the “Caucasus International” magazine Zaur Shiriyev made speeches at the event.

Director of the International Centre for Defense Studies Matthew Bryza expressed his concerns about the fact that resettlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan dispute. He said the conflict must be solved peacefully, adding there is a need for a mutual agreement.

CEPS expert Amanda Paul noted the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was negatively affecting the situation in the entire Caucasus region. She called on the EU to be more active in the process of finding a solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.

Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Assistant Viktors Makarovs said Latvia is ready to further the partnership with Azerbaijan to a higher level.

SAM Deputy Director Gulshan Pashayeva highlighted the causes and consequences of the Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.


/AzerTAc/