FM MEETS EU`S COMMISSIONER FOR EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY

Baku, January 21 (AzerTAc). Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov met with European Union`s Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

The sides exchanged views on expanding EU-Azerbaijan cooperation within the European Neighborhood Policy, settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Eastern
partnership initiative as well as the Nabucco project.
The minister briefed Ferrero-Waldner on Azerbaijan`s role in diversifying energy
supplies to Europe. He emphasized the importance of major projects carried out in
the country for both the region and Europe.
Mammadyarov also spoke of his country`s economic development and ongoing democracy
building process.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, in turn, praised the EU-Azerbaijan cooperation on political
dialogue, energy security, regional partnership, democracy and human rights.
She stressed the importance of speeding up implementation of the European
Neighborhood Policy.
The Commissioner also noted the Eastern partnership initiative envisages both
bilateral and multilateral cooperation with countries participating in the program.
Ferrero-Waldner added the association agreement to be signed with four post-soviet
states including Azerbaijan within Eastern partnership program would contribute to
expansion of political and economic cooperation and simplification of visa regime.
She also underlined that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be settled in a
peaceful way.