Brussels, 21/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption on Thursday 20 May, in Strasbourg, of a report by Evgeni Kirilov (S&D) on the need for a European Union strategy in favour of South Caucasus, the EP reaffirms that the EU's main objective in the region is to “encourage the development of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia towards open, peaceful, stable and democratic countries, ready to establish good neighbourly relations and able to transform the South Caucasus into a region of sustainable peace, stability and prosperity, with a view to enhancing the integration of these countries in European policies”. This region is essential for the EU's energy interests as it hosts the South Caucasus pipeline which transports gas from the Caspian to the Black Sea.
MEPs considers the EU needs to play an increasingly active political role to achieve the objective of pacifying the region, by developing a strategy that would combine its soft power with a firm approach, in agreement with the countries of the region and complemented by bilateral policies. Despite the fact that Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia have been part of European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) since 2004, there is, at present, no comprehensive strategy for the region. The European Union's future strategy for the region should focus on three areas: - peaceful conflict settlement; - the promotion of democracy, human rights and rule of law; - and economic cooperation and social development.
The geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus is riddled with conflict, refugees and displaced persons from Nagorno Karabakh and Georgia, as well as tensions between Armenia and Turkey despite rapprochement underway. The situation of conflict in the region is “neither acceptable nor viable”, the EP underlines. Rapid growth in military spending and arsenal-building in the region is of concern to Parliament, which calls for Armenian forces to withdraw from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The persistence of frozen conflicts is “another obstacle to economic and social development” in the Caucasus region, MEPs say.
Energy security. Energy security is highly important and the EU must support energy projects in the South Caucasus, intensify cooperation in energy projects, and work towards completion of the Nabucco pipeline.
Ahead of local elections in Georgia to be held on 30 May, MEPs insist that measures be taken to ensure that international electoral standards are respected. The EP's foreign affairs committee will send an ad hoc delegation of seven MEPs to observe these elections. (L.C./transl.jl)