AZE.US
The European Union is looking to deepen cooperation with Azerbaijan and is discussing what additional steps can be taken in that direction, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
According to Report’s Europe bureau, Kallas said the bloc sees room for more active engagement with Baku across several areas, particularly energy and trade, where both sides have clear shared interests.
“Azerbaijan has been, and remains, a very reliable energy partner for European Union countries,” she said.
Commenting on Baku’s call for broader international assistance with demining in Karabakh, Kallas said the EU is already involved in such efforts and does not rule out doing more to support Azerbaijan in that area.
At the same time, she noted that the issue of demining was not specifically discussed during Monday’s ministerial meeting. She said the EU would continue to examine what more could be done in response to the request.
Kallas also stressed at the start of the press conference that the EU views the South Caucasus as a strategically important region. Europe, she said, has a strong interest in a stable and secure South Caucasus, and progress in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process creates a real opportunity for the wider region.
She also highlighted Azerbaijan’s importance as a partner in energy and connectivity and said the EU wants to deepen cooperation and resume talks on a new bilateral agreement in the near future.
At the same time, Kallas said the EU is also stepping up support for the peace process and has agreed to establish a new civilian mission in Armenia aimed at strengthening the country’s resilience, including against disinformation and cyberattacks. She added that the bloc hopes to deepen its partnership with Yerevan as well.
AZE.US