Strasbourg, 05/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on developing relations between the European Union and the Southern Caucasus, in which it proposes organising a conference bringing together Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the European Union to define a regional co-operation strategy aimed at promoting peace, democracy and economic growth. The EP also calls for the holding of a conference on economic development and investments by EU banks and companies in the region, as well as the creation of Commission delegations in Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Council, moreover, is urged to look into the possibility of appointing a special Union envoy to the region and, with the Commission, to submit as soon as possible a common EU strategy towards the region, which occupies a vital strategic position. This strategy should take account of both the interests of these populations and the interests of the European Union.
The Southern Caucasus are a gateway to Central Asia, Olivier Dupuis (Bonino list) stressed during the debate, as did Brnd Posselt (CSU), urging Russia too to do something for the region, which, according to Demetrio Volcic (Democratici di sinistra), needs permanent observers and "little rhetoric".
Any effort at stabilising the region will have to take account of the interests of Russia, Iran and Turkey, observed Commissioner Poul Nielson. The question of setting up delegations is a problem, he acknowledged: the Commission is somewhat "victim of your decisions", as it was not the Commission that had asked for a ceiling to be placed on the number of its delegations in third countries. Make up your minds, concluded Mr. Nielson, announcing that the Commission was to include the region in the ECHO programme, so that it may benefit from its humanitarian assistance.