Brussels, 19/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - On a visit that began last Sunday to the Caucasus, the German minister for foreign affairs, Frank-Walter Steinmeier stopped over in Baku before arriving in Tbilisi and Erevan on Monday. Part of the German presidency of the Council of the EU's foreign policy priorities, the three countries of the region - Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia - have formed part of European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) since 2004. As well as relations with the EU, as part of the action plans adopted on 14 November 2006 with the three countries (EUROPE 9306), discussions are also focusing on energy. Reforms have significantly moved forward in Azerbaijan in the area of the economy, as well as abolition of the death penalty and implementation of the post of Ombudsman, pointed out Mr Steinmeier on Monday after the meeting with the Azerbaijan foreign minister, Elmar Mamediarov. The German minister explained that the important thing now was “to continue on this path and make democracy and the rule of law part of the structural fabric of government and society”. He also stressed that in this, “historically the cradle of oil and gas production” there were opportunities for cooperation between governments and companies. (ab)