European Parliament member: European Union must not see Azerbaijan as the energy source only

How do you assess the current relations between the European Parliament and Azerbaijan?

I consider that European Parliament highly appreciates cooperation between Azerbaijan and EU institutions. The organization is closely watching the Azerbaijani NGOs’ dynamic activity in EP. The European parliamentarians get good opportunity to know Azerbaijan and they are amusedly observing the fact that global economic crisis had no impact on Azerbaijan and the country even gets profits from this crisis.

Azerbaijan participates in EU Eastern Partnership and Neighborhood Policy programs. How do you value the country’s activity in these projects and what prospects can be expected in this direction?

Azerbaijan makes serious efforts to move both processes forward showing its political will and commitment to Europe. Recently we have witnessed the long-term gas agreement signed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and European Commission President. It is indicator of Baku’s support to the pretentious European project which considers construction of number of pipelines. Naturally, EU highly appreciates Azerbaijan’s activity in this field. The country’s support to the projects like South Corridor shows it as a partner sharing common idea of stability and security in the border areas. Simplification of trade operations, mutual researches and innovation, free movement of goods, energy security are the practical superiorities of the European neighborhood policy and I consider that EU sees Azerbaijan as a reliable partner which is able to realize all of these ideas.

Alongside with Azerbaijan and other countries, Armenia also participates in the Eastern Partnership program. Armenia and Azerbaijan have unresolved Nagorno Karabakh conflict and 20% of Azerbaijani territories were occupied by Armenia. What is your opinion about that?

The Caucasus has always been rough region throughout the history. Most problems of the people of this region were caused by this situation. Now not only stability of Azerbaijan and Armenia, but security of whole Caucasian region depends on peaceful solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict. There are four UN resolutions which show Azerbaijan’s intentions to solve the conflict peacefully. I think renewed Madrid principles supported by Azerbaijan could promote peace process. Establishing peace, withdrawal of separatist forces from Nagorno Karabakh, return of refugees and IDPs to their homes and peaceful co-existence of Azerbaijanis and Armenians are the main principles. EU recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and therefore all members of the organization must respect this fact. If once I visit Nagorno Karabakh, I will travel there via the territory of Azerbaijan and ask the opinion of the Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

All international organizations including the European Union recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Don’t you think that these organizations make slow and biased steps in this direction?

This is really one of the problems of large international organizations. Sometimes they do not desire to express their opinion about the issue and they are sluggish. Sometimes some decisions on sensible issues dissatisfy everybody instead of satisfying. One of my next questions to the commission will concern this issue. It means that it is high time for the European institutions to respond these or other questions. “We need to leave the answers as “Yes, you are right, but go and do what you want” and “You are right but it is not in our authority”. I hope that the international organizations will be more responsible and quick, and it will give opportunity for the progress of the issues.

Are you satisfied with the level of the discussion inside EP on this issue? Can the organization function more seriously?

I think that, he EP can express its position to this issue more concrete and clearly. In my opinion the final resolution of this conflict will be effective for both sides. As it is said “A bad peace is even worse than war”.

How do you assess the level of economic relations between Azerbaijan and the EU?

I think EU must not see Azerbaijan as the energy source only. This country really has the attractive economic spheres. I have an occasion to better know Azerbaijan. The greatest richness of Azerbaijan is not only its energy and economics, but at the same time, its people which I had to know. These people who have the European behaviour and mentality are more Europeans than who consider themselves as Europeans. I think we - the politicians have to mention not only bad or good things in the EU-Azerbaijan economic relations. We have to take active part in this sphere.


/APA/