Brussels, 10/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 8 April, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle and Azerbaijani Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Mammad-Guliyev stated their resolve to strengthen relations between the EU and Baku. While Mammad-Guliyev wants the partnership between the two to take on a strategic dimension, the EU favours a widening and deepening of dialogue and cooperation - including in areas of values and freedoms - the European Commission states in a press release. Füle said that domestic developments in Azerbaijan have an impact on EU- Azerbaijani relations, and although the climate in bilateral relations is improving, concerns remain on issues relating to the domestic political scene - in particular, the freedoms of assembly, expression and the media.
Füle stated that “dealing with these issues will help both sides to seize the opportunities to see progress in bilateral relations this year in time for the Vilnius summit of the Eastern Partnership” in November 2013. Baku is making progress in the negotiations for an accession agreement and for an agreement on visa facilitation and readmission. Füle underlined the need to move forward in resolving the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. (CG/transl.fl)