Azerbaijan - key partner along Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor – EU Commissioner Marta Kos (Exclusive interview)

[ad_1] BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 6. Azerbaijan is a key accomplice alongside the Trans-Caspian Transport Hall, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos mentioned in an unique interview with Development, as she visited Azerbaijan in September.

Key takeaways from go to to Azerbaijan

The Commissioner famous that following the initialling of the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the South Caucasus area goes by a profound transformation.

"At this historic juncture, I got here to Baku with a easy message: the EU is able to assist Azerbaijan to seize this historic alternative to place our relation into new political context. This was my first official go to to Azerbaijan. I met President Ilham Aliyev and expressed my congratulations for his management within the peace course of. I introduced that we need to enhance our assist for demining efforts – the EU is able to present as much as EUR 23 million. We mentioned a variety of areas of mutual curiosity, together with transport connectivity, power cooperation, and demining actions," she mentioned.

Kos identified that particularly connectivity has gained in current geopolitical context way more political significance for EU but additionally for Azerbaijan.

"The complete potential of the area could be unleashed by bridging Central Asia and Europe. We additionally agreed to ascertain a Excessive-Degree Financial Working Group to discover potentialities to strengthen EU-Azerbaijan financial cooperation and increase investments," the EU Commissioner added.

EU's function in Center Hall's improvement

Kos famous that for the primary time in generations, the prospect of commerce routes from Europe to Central Asia by way of the South Caucasus is changing into a actuality.

"My go to to Azerbaijan was a primary step within the broader technique of connecting EU in the direction of the South Caucasus and additional in the direction of Asia by way of the Black Sea area. We need to reinforce ties with Azerbaijan by advancing mobility, power and digital hyperlinks, additionally trying in the direction of Central Asia. The EU has a constructive agenda for Azerbaijan: a concrete provide to spice up financial improvement and sustainable progress. This presents important financial, political and safety advantages for Azerbaijan important within the improvement of the Center Hall. On this regard, Azerbaijan is a key accomplice alongside the Trans-Caspian Transport Hall," she mentioned.

The Commissioner famous that Europe shares an curiosity with Azerbaijan to make the hall successful.

"Within the upcoming months, we'll make these intentions concrete: we'll convene the second International Gateway Discussion board in Brussels on 9-10 October, and we're internet hosting a Cross-Regional Safety and Connectivity Ministerial on 20 October. Earlier than the top of the yr, we may even invite the non-public sector to discover investments in the Trans-Caspian Transport Hall," Kos added.

Enhancing cooperation in transport inside broader regional connectivity

"Our imaginative and prescient is one routed in our personal expertise in Europe. European cooperation turned successful as a result of we began to work in concrete areas of mutual curiosity between international locations that had been historic foes. Transport and logistics could possibly be these substances for relations between Azerbaijan and the EU, but additionally with the wider South Caucasus. Each sectors are essential financial sectors with nice political significance. For our enterprise, but additionally for our residents. After we flip our cooperation into successful, I'm satisfied that it could convey relations between Azerbaijan and Europe to a brand new constructive actuality," she mentioned.

The Commissioner identified that the EU is able to work with the federal government of Azerbaijan on re-building, re-establishing and re-habilitating the routes that convey Europe nearer.

EU perspective on Azerbaijan-Armenia peace course of

Kos famous that the European Union welcomes the initialling of the peace settlement in Washington.

"This can be a main step in the direction of lasting peace and stability within the area. A signed and ratified peace settlement will mark the top of previous conflicts and have a serious constructive impression on regional improvement. It can open a brand new chapter of peace and stability. A key aspect within the settlement is the dedication to enhanced connectivity. It won't solely strengthen hyperlinks throughout the area but additionally convey Europe nearer to the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Azerbaijan can depend on the European Union to additional the normalisation course of, together with initiatives on doable cross-border and regional cooperation, reconciliation efforts and humanitarian points," she added.

EU's view on Russia’s actions in opposition to Azerbaijani power infrastructure in Ukraine

The Commissioner famous that EU condemns these assaults within the strongest doable phrases.

"These are not any coincidence. The EU and Azerbaijan are sturdy supporters of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Russia’s deliberate concentrating on of civilian power infrastructure in Ukraine is unprovoked and lacks any justification. It's utterly unacceptable and have to be ceased instantly. The concentrating on of SOCAR’s property constitutes yet one more step in Russia’s relentless aggression," Kos famous.

Strengthening EU-Azerbaijan ties by Jap Partnership

Kos identified that the Jap Partnership stays an essential framework for the development of the peace course of and the broader Cross-Regional Connectivity Agenda.

"You will need to work along with Jap Partnership international locations and throughout the Caspian Sea with our companions in Central Asia. Azerbaijan is a central accomplice in these efforts. My go to to Azerbaijan meant to sign the political dedication of the EU to strengthen the place of Azerbaijan within the Jap Partnership, and worth its function as a strategic accomplice to Europe. I imagine that the Excessive-Degree Financial Working Group which we launched on the event of my go to will contribute to this ambition," she added.

Future EU-Azerbaijan collaboration throughout key sectors

"We don't begin from scratch. Following the priorities agreed within the Memorandum of Understanding between President of the European Fee Ursula von der Leyen and President Ilham Aliyev in July 2022, we'll proceed to work to strengthen regional power connectivity, renewable power and power effectivity," the Commissioner mentioned.

She famous that strengthening the political dialogue and resuming cooperation will now be key to this new web page in Azerbaijan-EU relations.

"To advance our partnership, we now must renew the EU-Azerbaijan Partnership Priorities. Peace constructing and connectivity are prime priorities for our future cooperation with Azerbaijan. I additionally see nice potential to develop and deepen our cooperation with Azerbaijan in areas resembling local weather and surroundings, schooling, and commerce," Kos concluded.