Brussels, 15/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton left for the South Caucasus on Tuesday 15 November and will be there until Thursday 17 November, to underline the EU's strong commitment in that region. The “main aim of my visit is to show the commitment of the EU to the South Caucasus”, she explained before leaving on Tuesday. She pointed out that, over the past year, in the context of the renewed European neighbourhood policy and Eastern Partnership, “we have engaged in a process of significant strengthening of our relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, including through negotiations of association agreements”. Ashton said she hopes to see the three countries progress with the “necessary reforms, with European values as the guiding light. We also want to see steps forward in the resolution of conflicts”.
On Tuesday, Catherine Ashton was in Baku, Azerbaijan, to meet President Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister Arthur Rasi-Zade and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. On Wednesday, she will be in Tbilissi, Georgia, to discuss with President Mikhaïl Saakashvili, Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze, and the head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia, Andrzej Tyszkiewicz. Finally, on Thursday, Ashton will be in Yerevan, Armenia, for talks with President Serge Sarkissian, Prime Minister Tigran Sarkissian, and Foreign Minister Edouard Nalbandian. (CG/transl.jl)