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RFE: EU Official Issues Caution Over Ties With Azerbaijan

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  • RFE: EU Official Issues Caution Over Ties With Azerbaijan

    EU OFFICIAL ISSUES CAUTION OVER TIES WITH AZERBAIJAN

    RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, Czech Republic
    Oct 5 2005

    5 October 2005 -- The European Union's external relations commissioner,
    Benita Ferrero-Waldner, warned today that Azerbaijan risks delaying
    its participation in the EU's European Neighborhood Program by pursuing
    ties with Northern Cyprus.

    "I told the Azeris clearly: 'If they do not change their attitude, if
    they do not find a solution, we will start moving ahead with Armenia
    and Georgia,'" Ferrero-Waldner said. "We're hoping now that the Azeris
    will find a solution, but this is going to be a matter of some weeks
    after I must give the go-ahead to the others [Armenia and Georgia]
    because I cannot let them wait."

    The EU only recognizes the Greek-community government of the divided
    island, which joined the EU in 2004.

    Cyprus is now blocking Azerbaijan's progress in the European
    neighborhood program -- also known as the wider Europe initiative --
    over Baku's links to the Turkish part of Cyprus, having specifically
    complained about commercial flight activity.

    Ferrero-Waldner, who was speaking before the European Parliament's
    foreign affairs committee in Brussels, said she had warned Azerbaijan
    of the risk.
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