Eastern Partnership meeting in Brussels canceled

The annual meeting of the foreign ministers of the Eastern Partnership countries, which was scheduled for next Tuesday, has been canceled, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend.

The ministry refused to provide further information. The meeting aimed to summarize the results of the program. The ministers also planned to talk about supporting reforms and strengthening and intensifying relations with the EU. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Catherine Ashton was expected to attend the meeting.

The Eastern Partnership focuses on political and economic rapprochement between the EU and six post-Soviet countries, including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus.

The program does not provide opportunities for EU membership. However, it does involve facilitating the visa regime, energy cooperation, and introducing of free trade zones. Small projects on student exchanges, environmental protection and energy supplies will also be realized.

Azerbaijan is in the process of negotiating an association agreement with the EU. The first round of talks with three South Caucasus countries was held in mid-July. The agreements are based on joint obligations to develop common values and cover a wide range of areas, including political dialogue, justice, freedom and security, as well as trade and cooperation.

The Eastern Partnership's constituent summit was held in Prague on May 7, 2008.

The second summit is scheduled for May 2011.


/Trend/