President: There is active dialogue between EU and Azerbaijan

2011.06.22 22:04

Details and photos were added (first version was posted at 19:21)
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso have given a joint press conference, the Azerbaijani President's official website reported.
"The relations between the EU and Azerbaijan are at the highest level," said Barroso. He said he discussed with the President of Azerbaijan the Eastern Partnership Program, the European Neighbourhood Policy and the processes of democracy development in Azerbaijan. Barroso mentioned the importance of the Baku Declaration on the Southern Corridor.
Barroso said the time has come to resolve the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. European Commission President also congratulated Azerbaijan on its victory in Eurovision-2011.
"There is an active dialogue between the EU and Azerbaijan," said Aliyev. The President said the bilateral agenda was extensive, and this meeting focused on many issues. "We continue legal and political reforms in the country. Azerbaijan's economy is developing dynamically," said Aliyev. He stated that the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is important within the internationally recognized territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Refugees and internally displaced persons should return to their homes in the nearest future. Aliyev said Azerbaijan is a reliable partner of the EU, and the meeting comprehensively covered the issues of energy policy.
After their statements, the press conference featured a question-and-answer session with journalists.