By empty (10/13/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Deputy foreign minister Araz Azimov has said tensions between the European Union and Azerbaijan are temporary.The country’s relations with the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) are of humanitarian nature and implemented on an informal level. There is no need for making any conclusions from the recent opening of flights to Northern Cyprus, he said.
Deputy foreign minister Araz Azimov has said tensions between the European Union and Azerbaijan are temporary.The country’s relations with the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) are of humanitarian nature and implemented on an informal level. There is no need for making any conclusions from the recent opening of flights to Northern Cyprus, he said. The European Union earlier warned Azerbaijan may fall behind in its New Neighborhood Policy after it opened direct flights with TRNC. There are certain views about various problems in EU-Azerbaijan ties that could cause misunderstanding during the discussions, Azimov said. The deputy foreign minister said the EU-Azerbaijan relations are mainly based on the agreement on partnership, which envisions mutual respect, inviolability of borders and cooperation within the frame of international law. He said Azerbaijan attaches strategic importance to developing ties with the EU. The difference of opinions is a temporary political difficulty and the EU should also be interested in eliminating it, Azimov said. \"EU may apply differential approach to regional states. But in my opinion, this is outside its interests, considering Azerbaijan’s role and capabilities\", he added. (BakuToday)