'EU will aim to step up its support to ongoing peace efforts towards settling Nagorno-Karabakh conflict'

The EU will aim to step up its support to ongoing peace efforts towards settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Štefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy said while addressing the European Parliament on the results of his recent trips to the South Caucasus countries and Ukraine.

“Throughout my trip to the South Caucasus I felt the presence of regional tension and the effects of armed conflict which have so dramatically impacted on people's lives. I appreciated in particular the possibilities to speak to internally displaced persons in Georgia and in Azerbaijan.”

The commissioner underlined “conflicts have haunted the South Caucasus for too long. In my meetings I conveyed that the EU`s overall goal for the region is a stable, secure and prosperous South Caucasus.”

Touching upon the Association Agreements with the South Caucasus countries Füle said the negotiating directives for them will be “presented for formal adoption at the Foreign Affairs Council on May 10. This will pave the way for the EU side to prepare for the launch of negotiations.”

He added “these Agreements will allow for close political association between each of the partners in the South Caucasus and the EU, building on common values and shared principles.”

“Closely linked to the Association Agreements, the EU`s offer to establish deep and comprehensive free trade areas is also an immensely important opportunity for those South Caucasus countries that have fulfilled the preconditions. Such agreements of economic integration will provide access to the EU market of 500 million consumers and will help increase trade flows and investments.”


/AzerTac/