Ahmad Shahidov: “Azerbaijan seems unwilling in signing Associative Agreement with the European Union”
Holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Latvia will host one of grandiose summit “Eastern Partnership Summit” of participating countries in Riga on May 21-22, 2015. The summit is expected to attend by top officials from 28 EU participating countries, six Eastern Partnership countries as well as high level representatives of EU political institutions. As it was expected earlier, Riga summit will reaffirm strategic importance of Eastern Partnership program as an integral part of the EU Neighborhood policy. The summit will also feature discussions on crucial aspects of the implementation of Eastern Partnership policy and road map of main direction of collaboration to be carried out among EU and participating countries in the upcoming years.
According to Ahmad Shahidov, Head of the Azerbaijani Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (AIDHR) the summit to be held in Riga will be the first following signed associative agreements between EU and Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The statement reads: ”Outcomes of the implementation of Associative Agreements will be assessed during the summit. Further discussions will be conducted on opportunities laid by the Eastern Partnership program for other three member countries-Azerbaijan, Belarusian and Armenia. Each of these countries will reiterate their commitments with regard to deepening their mutual and fruitful collaboration with EU”.
Ahmad Shahidov, Head of AIDHR went on to note that Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been invited by EU officials to attend Riga summit. “Head of country Ilham Aliyev’s attendance has not been confirmed yet. Presumably Azerbaijan is not willing to sign Associative Agreement with EU and taking into account geopolitical circumstances Azerbaijan pursues balanced policy. Therefore, Azerbaijan attach special importance to bilateral collaboration with EU participating countries”, the statement said.
Ahmad Shahidov: “Azerbaijan seems unwilling in signing Associative Agreement with the European Union”
Holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Latvia will host one of grandiose summit “Eastern Partnership Summit” of participating countries in Riga on May 21-22, 2015. The summit is expected to attend by top officials from 28 EU participating countries, six Eastern Partnership countries as well as high level representatives of EU political institutions. As it was expected earlier, Riga summit will reaffirm strategic importance of Eastern Partnership program as an integral part of the EU Neighborhood policy. The summit will also feature discussions on crucial aspects of the implementation of Eastern Partnership policy and road map of main direction of collaboration to be carried out among EU and participating countries in the upcoming years.
According to Ahmad Shahidov, Head of the Azerbaijani Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (AIDHR) the summit to be held in Riga will be the first following signed associative agreements between EU and Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The statement reads: ”Outcomes of the implementation of Associative Agreements will be assessed during the summit. Further discussions will be conducted on opportunities laid by the Eastern Partnership program for other three member countries-Azerbaijan, Belarusian and Armenia. Each of these countries will reiterate their commitments with regard to deepening their mutual and fruitful collaboration with EU”.
Ahmad Shahidov, Head of AIDHR went on to note that Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been invited by EU officials to attend Riga summit. “Head of country Ilham Aliyev’s attendance has not been confirmed yet. Presumably Azerbaijan is not willing to sign Associative Agreement with EU and taking into account geopolitical circumstances Azerbaijan pursues balanced policy. Therefore, Azerbaijan attach special importance to bilateral collaboration with EU participating countries”, the statement said.