Azerbaijan and the European Union

Azerbaijan and the European Union have maintained positive relations over the years.

Background

EU relations with Azerbaijan are governed by the EU–Azerbaijan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed in 1996 and entered into force in 1999.

Following the enlargement of the European Union, the EU launched the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and Azerbaijan became part of this policy in 2004. On the basis of a Country Report (published in March 2005) an ENP Action Plan was discussed by the Commission and the Azerbaijani government and finally adopted on November 14, 2006. [ [http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/azerbaijan/index_en.htm External relations of the EU with Azerbaijan] ]

Opinions

Present situation

Azerbaijan is still in conflict over the status of Nagorno-Karabakh with neighbouring Armenia, which has "de facto" control of the territory, although Azerbaijan owns the territory "de jure". During the 1990s, the majority Armenian population of region declared their independence after holding a referendum and engaged in a full-scale war against Azerbaijan with Armenian aid. Since 1994, a ceasefire has been in place, but tensions remain very high. Azerbaijan refuses to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh at any level and thus Armenia represents the region in the peace negotiations. Bako Sahakyan, the current president of Nagorno-Karabakh, pledged to seek full independence of the region, using the example that international recognition of Kosovo as an independent state would pave the way for acceptance of Nagorno-Karabakh's sovereignty. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/20/europe/EU-GEN-Armenia-Azerbaijan-Nagorno-Karabakh-Vote.php Bako Saakian wins presidential election in Nagorno-Karabakh - Herald Tribune] ] The government of Azerbaijan is regularly critizised by officals of the European Commission and members of the European Parliament for its poor human rights record.

References

ee also

*Enlargement of the European Union
*Foreign relations of the European Union
*Foreign relations of Azerbaijan
*Armenia and the European Union
*Georgia and the European Union
*Moldova and the European Union
*Ukraine and the European Union
*Turkey and the European Union