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BAKU; "EU Policy For South Caucasus Must Be Bold In Order To Achieve

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  • BAKU; "EU Policy For South Caucasus Must Be Bold In Order To Achieve

    "EU POLICY FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS MUST BE BOLD IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE ITS OBJECTIVES"

    Today
    http://www.today.az/news/politics/69318.html
    June 7 2010
    Azerbaijan

    The Parliament magazine published the article by Evgeni Kirilov, the
    EU Rapporteur on the need for an EU strategy for the South Caucasus,
    entitled Broadening Horizons. Below is the full text of the article.

    The South Caucasus is not only a region in the immediate neighborhood
    of the EU (Romania and Bulgaria have a sea border with it), but
    a region of great strategic importance in political, economic and
    security terms. Therefore the EU`s main objective there should be
    to participate actively in its stabilization and to encourage the
    development of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia towards stability and
    democracy, to establish good neighborly relations and integration
    into the EU's policies.

    The European parliament strongly supports all the initiatives
    which increase the EU's presence in the region, and in particular
    the most recent one the eastern partnership. Among other things,
    it offers a valuable framework for increased regional cooperation,
    the introduction of visa-free travel to the EU and the conclusion of
    comprehensive free trade agreements.

    Certainly, this is a two way process that requires effort and
    dedication from both sides. It is in the vital interest of the three
    countries to continue their efforts towards further democratization.

    Good governance, political pluralism, the rule of law and respect
    for human rights are of paramount importance for determining their
    future relations with the EU.

    Therefore, the EU should continue providing financial and technical
    assistance to them in order to promote these principles and processes
    within the framework of political conditionality.

    The regions strategic geopolitical location, its increasing
    importance as an energy, transport and communications corridor
    connecting the Caspian region and Central Asia with Europe, and the
    growing EU preoccupation with energy security suggest a more active
    EU participation in the energy projects of the region, including the
    completion of the Nabucco pipeline project.

    However, these ambitious EU policies can hardly be achieved when
    there is a big shadow over the region the unresolved conflicts in
    Georgia and Nagorno Karabakh. They are also a serious impediment for
    democratization, political stability and socioeconomic development.

    Unfortunately, it was owing to the 2008 war in Georgia that the EU
    realized it needs to play a more active role in the region as far
    as conflict prevention and conflict management are concerned. The
    deadlock situation due to these conflicts and the entry into force
    of the Lisbon treaty justify an increasingly proactive EU policy.

    This is particularly valid for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
    where the EU has been practically absent. Simply stating support
    for the work of the Minsk group at this stage is not enough if the
    EU takes seriously its new, more active role in foreign policy. The
    EU is the international mediator that is accepted by both sides
    and whose presence does not raise controversies. There is a need
    for the EU to lead the international efforts for rehabilitation and
    reconstruction in this conflict area by initiating reconciliation
    projects, people-to-people programmes and by sending a mission in
    the region once a political solution is found.

    The conflicts in the region demand a special effort also with regards
    to the situation of the hundreds of thousands of displaced people,
    which has serious humanitarian consequences. The EU has the means
    and the experience to contribute to the creation of a more tolerant
    atmosphere in the South Caucasus. It should also draw from its own
    historical experience and show to the people from the region that they
    can live together in peace and prosperity and that they can restore
    the good relations and trust that historically existed. One of the
    main tasks for the EU is to try to persuade the leaders and the people
    of the region to support the peaceful initiatives, not the threats,
    not the tensions.




    From: A. Papazian
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