This is positive for Azerbaijan: political expert

“The first thing that catches one’s eye is Europe's desire to bring the South Caucasus closer to itself and to in large-scale projects, which all three South Caucasian republics are able to get involved,” Azerbaijani political expert Fikrat Sadigov said commenting on launch of negotiations to sign bilateral agreements with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia on association with the EU.

Foreign ministers of the 27 EU states on Tuesday issued a mandate to the European Commission to start negotiations on signing of bilateral agreements on association with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

The agreement on association with the EU is a new practical tool that will replace the bilateral Action Plans between the EU and South Caucasus republics.

“Azerbaijan’s role, its significance in the region and its hydrocarbon potential are obvious. Azerbaijan is a great value for the world community, in particular for European countries,” Sadigov said.

"Role of Georgia, which has openly pro-Western course and aspires to join NATO especially after the events of August last year, is obvious as well. Its intention has become even stronger,” he added.

“As to Armenia, there is stronger striving to involve the country with projects in a bid to drive it out Russia’s influence,” the political expert said.

He said Europe is willing to deprive Russia of its foothold in the South Caucasus with the associated education, in order to actively influence, to use potential opportunities and bring the region closer to its European values.

“If this is done on these considerations, this is positive for Azerbaijan. Especially because Europe recognizes territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.”

“But unfortunately, the Europeans are so pragmatic and so far removed from the subtleties of our regional problems that they are trying to reduce everything to one number, one single list so that they simply will not have a headache. But this is impossible goal, primarily because Armenia and Azerbaijan will never be involved in common regional projects until Armenia does not liberate the occupied Azerbaijani territories,” Sadigov said.

"We have said this many times, and I regret that there is so bad audibility about Azerbaijan in Europe,” he said.

/Day.Az/