Azerbaijani president, EU foreign policy chief discuss energy, Baku-Yerevan peace process
BAKU. April 25 (Interfax) - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas have discussed bilateral relations and the peace process between Baku and Yerevan.
Energy cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan has been effective, a statement on the Azerbaijani presidential website cited Kallas as saying. She also referred to Baku as a reliable partner in ensuring Europe's energy security.
Aliyev, for his part, said that Azerbaijan has been supplying natural gas to ten European countries, including eight EU member states, for a decade already.
Azerbaijani-EU cooperation in renewable energy holds promise as well, he said.
"Aliyev noted that our country has rich wind power resources. Furthermore, Azerbaijan plays an important role in developing the trans-Caspian energy corridor with the countries of Central Asia and in implementing Black Sea projects, which also involve Georgia, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria," the statement said.
There are vast opportunities for transport cooperation, Aliyev said.
The parties also exchanged views on ways to ensure lasting stability in the South Caucasus, according to the statement. Aliyev said in this context that steps are being taken in the bilateral format and discussions on normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan are ongoing.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said at a press briefing that Aliyev and Kallas agreed to take practical steps in the near future as part of a new EU-Azerbaijan strategic partnership agreement.
The sides have already agreed 90%-95% of the points in the document, he said.
"These negotiations have stalled in recent years. Today, we again discussed this issue and agreed to take practical steps to finalize the document. Decisions are yet to be made on economic and trade issues. They can be added to the agreement at the next stage," the Report news agency quoted Bayramov as saying.
Bayramov also met with Kallas on Friday.
"The sides focused on the current issues and prospects of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU, including in areas of cooperation such as energy, trade, transport and the transition to the green economy, as well as Azerbaijan's contribution to regional connectivity and clean energy exports," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Bayramov and Kallas also discussed regional security, including the post-conflict situation in the South Caucasus.
"Bayramov reaffirmed Azerbaijan's fundamental position that introducing amendments to the constitution of Armenia that will eliminate its territorial claims to Azerbaijan is the main condition for signing a peace treaty," the statement said.