TALVITIE DOES NOT RULE OUT INDIVIDUAL APPROACH TO SOUTH CAUCASUS STATES

PanARMENIAN.Net - The discussions of the European Neighborhood Policy program should have started September 1. However these were delayed due to the complicated relations between Azerbaijan and one of the EU member states, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie stated at a joint news conference with Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian. He also noted that the EU has commitments to protect any state that is part of it. In his words, it is necessary to make it clear first and only after the problem with the country in question is solved the discussions with the South Caucasian states will start. «We equally work for starting the discussions with all of the three countries of the region,» H. Talvitie said. The balance towards the South Caucasian states is necessary to convince them that regional cooperation is important, he added. He hoped for the problem to be solved by early October. If not, he did not rule out the opportunity of EU approach to the South Caucasian states on an individual basis. It should be noted that the other day the Republic of Cyprus vetoed the candidacy of Azerbaijan and blocked Baku participation in the EU Wider Europe: New Neighbors Program. The suspension fo the Program is due to the Cyprus attitude towards Azerbaijan due to direct air flights between Baku and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Greek Cyprus has officially raised the issue of suspension of aid to Azerbaijan in the EU. Besides, in the course of the news conference in Yerevan H. Talvitie noted the dynamics in the talks over settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. There is certain progress in the issue, he remarked at that. Speaking of the constitutional changes in Armenia, he said, «We find that these changes in the Constitution are correct and these will benefit Armenia.»