Azerbaijani MFA: Baku always opposed creation of Eastern Partnership program in confrontational context

Azerbaijan has always opposed the creation of the Eastern Partnership program in a confrontational context. This principle is reflected in the Joint Declaration itself. It is noted that the Eastern Partnership is based on constructive cooperation and is not directed against anyone, said the head of the press service of the department Leyla Abdullayeva, answering a media question about the reservations of Azerbaijan specified in the Joint Declaration of the Eastern Partnership Summit.

"As you know, on December 15, 2021, the VI Eastern Partnership Summit was held in Brussels, following which a joint declaration was adopted. The declaration includes a number of important issues for Azerbaijan: the EU supported the territorial integrity of all partner countries, including Azerbaijan, within its internationally recognized borders. The document welcomes progress in negotiations on a new agreement between Azerbaijan and the EU, as well as the completion of the Southern Gas Corridor project, which contributes to the diversification of gas supply routes to the EU," she said.

As Abdullayeva noted, the joint declaration also calls for global solidarity, increased cooperation and multilateralism in preventing a pandemic and mitigating its consequences.

"This is in line with the priorities of our country in the fight against COVID-19 under the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement. Azerbaijan has always been against the creation of the Eastern Partnership program in a confidential context. This principle is reflected in the Joint Declaration itself. It is noted that the Eastern Partnership is based on constructive cooperation and is not directed against anyone. The position of our country is that the EU member states and partner countries should not introduce challenges and difficulties in their relations with third countries into the Eastern Partnership program," Abdullayeva noted.

On the other hand, as the head of the press service of the Foreign Ministry said, the Eastern Partnership program should serve not only the relations of the partner countries with the EU but also the development of relations between them.

"The Eastern Partnership program should not pursue policies that undermine high-level relationships established by partner countries with third countries outside of this program.

Due to the discrepancy between the views expressed in the Joint Declaration on Belarus and the principles of Azerbaijan's foreign policy, Azerbaijan adopted a Joint Declaration with its reservations. That is, Azerbaijan stated that it does not share the position on Belarus in paragraph 11.

Another reservation of Azerbaijan related to the "territories affected by the conflict" in the technical annex to the Joint Declaration. Azerbaijan, in its reservation, stressed the need to carry out activities in these territories at the request and with the consent of the country to which the territory belongs. This position is directly based on international law and the sovereign rights of states," she stressed.