Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, has concluded his official visit to the South Caucasus with meetings in Azerbaijan. He held talks with President Ilham Aliyev, then with Parliamentary Speaker Ogtay Asadov, followed by a visit to Baku's University of Foreign Languages, where Mr Van Rompuy was awarded the degree of Doctoris Honoris Causa.
In a statement to the press after his morning meeting with President Aliyev, Mr Van Rompuy commented on the strengthening of ties between the EU and Azerbaijan, particularly with regard to energy cooperation. Azerbaijan is a key player in the development of new oil and gas pipelines in the region, and the EU has welcomed the formalisation of Azerbaijani-Turkish cooperation on the Southern Corridor project. Despite progress already made, Mr Van Rompuy pressed President Aliyev "to make better use of the opportunities provided by the Eastern Partnership for Azerbaijan", which includes the promotion of trade and investment and the gradual liberalisation of visa regimes.
"Military force will not resolve the conflict. Only a peaceful, negotiated settlement can allow the entire region to move beyond the status quo toward a secure and prosperous future. If a secure and stable regional environment can be prepared, the benefits will be for all in Azerbaijan...Both Azerbaijan and Armenia need to take decisions to reach a lasting and peaceful settlement based on the Madrid principles. Both countries need to fully implement the commitments made by their Presidents in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. Both sides should also strictly respect the ceasefire and exercise restraint on the ground and refrain from hostile rhetoric in public statements...The appointment of Ambassador [Philippe] Lefort as the new EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia demonstrates the increased commitment of the EU to the settlement of the conflict and contributing to all aspects of any solution package."
source: commonspace.eu
photo: President Aliev welcoming Herman Van Rompuy in Baku on 5 July 2012 (picture courtesy of the press service of the president of Azerbaijan.)
