Three European Union ministers in Azerbaijan
12 December 2012 News
The tour of the South Caucasus by the foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Sweden and a Polish delegation began in Azerbaijan. In Baku, Nickolay Mladenov, Carl Bildt and Jacek Mihailovsky held talks with President Ilham Aliyev and their Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov.
“The purpose of our visit is to outline areas of co-operation in which the EU and Azerbaijan can make further efforts,” the Bulgarian Foreign Minister said. “Bulgaria has a strong interest in developing bilateral relations in the energy sector and supporting the Southern Gas Corridor to contribute to energy security and competition in Europe,” Minister Mladenov said.
“Bulgaria is our traditional and close partner. It is an important country as well because of its position as a gateway to the EU,” the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister said. Minister Mammadyarov confirmed Azerbaijan's desire to expand its partnership with the EU, which includes strengthening political and economic ties.
The three European delegations also discussed with their Azerbaijani hosts the attempts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the situation in the region. Later today, the three foreign ministers depart for Georgia.