Azerbaijani Parliament voices discontent over MEP's visit to Nagorno-Karabakh - UPDATE

The Azerbaijani Parliament expressed its dissatisfaction with the visit by European Parliament member's (MEP), Tomasz Poręba's to the Azerbaijani territories occupied by the Armenians.

MEP Poręba paid an illegal visit to the Azerbaijani occupied territories, Azerbaijani Parliamentary Speaker Ogtay Asadov said at the parliamentary meeting.

The European Parliament recognizes Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, and adopts resolutions on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Yet, by visiting the Nagorno-Karabakh without proper arrangement its member violates Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, Asadov said today at the meeting.

As MEP Tomasz Poręba is the keynote speaker in Armenia. His visit to Nagorno-Karabakh from Dec.19, involves meetings with the leadership of the unrecognized republic. On the agenda are discussions about the resolution of the Karabakh conflict, as well as the situation in the region and bilateral relations, the Armenian media outlets reported.

MEP Poręba's visit to Nagorno-Karabakh may negatively affect Azerbaijan's relations with this structure, Asadov said.

"Tomasz Poręba is a member of the Euronest reserve team, and we must think about how we will work with such kind of people within this structure. No one, especially international organizations, must violate Azerbaijan's territorial integrity," Asadov said.

"Euronest" is a parliamentary group in the EU's Eastern Partnership program. According to preliminary discussions on forming a new inter-parliamentary association, the Euronest will include 120 MPs - 60 from EU countries and 60 from six member countries of the Eastern Partnership Initiative.

In May last year, relations between Azerbaijan and the EU entered a new phase of partnership within the EU 'Eastern Partnership' program, initiated by Poland and Sweden.

The "Eastern Partnership" envisages political and economic rapprochement with the European Union and six post-Soviet states - Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia.

The program does not envisage opportunities for EU membership, but instead envisages facilitating the visa regime, energy cooperation, and the introduction of free trade zones. Small projects on student exchange, environmental protection, and energy supply will also be implemented.

The Speaker noted he will send a protest letter to the European Parliament Chairman.

MP Ali Huseynov noted at the meeting that he will express dissatisfaction with this fact during the European Parliament's meeting in Brussels. "A letter will also be sent to the Polish Embassy in Azerbaijan," Huseynov said.


/Trend/