Azerbaijani president hosts EU's Tusk in Baku

By Ruslan Rehimov and Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday met President of the European Council Donald Tusk in Baku.

The two leaders discussed ongoing negotiations between the European Commission and Azerbaijan on a new agreement over partnership.

Speaking at a joint press conference following a bilateral meeting, Aliyev said the negotiations are going on successfully.

On July, 11 2018, the EU and Azerbaijan agreed on their new partnership priorities, which marked an important step forward in EU-Azerbaijan relations as the joint priorities will guide and enhance the partnership in the upcoming years.

In 2017, the EU and Azerbaijan began negotiations on a new framework agreement which is updating the 1996 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Baku and the EU, designed to give new impetus to political dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Azerbaijan is a strategic energy partner for the EU and plays a pivotal role in bringing Caspian energy resources to the EU market.

The two leaders also discussed Upper Karabakh issue.

Aliyev said it should be solved in line with the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

The president added Azerbaijan and EU have very constructive cooperation energy security and transportation.

The Southern Gas Corridor project which is set to connect to Europe through the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is being successfully implemented.

Southern Gas Corridor includes three major pipeline projects: the expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline through Azerbaijan and Georgia, the construction of Trans Anatolian Natural gas Pipeline (TANAP) across Turkey and the construction of The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) through Greece, Albania and into Italy.

Tusk, for his part, said the agreement between Azerbaijan and EU is about to be completed and will deepen the political, commercial and cultural relations with Baku.

He highlighted a peaceful solution to Upper Karabakh issue in accordance with international law.

"There is no military solution but only a political settlement in accordance with international law and principles," said Tusk.

Karabakh -- a disputed territory between Azerbaijan and Armenia -- broke away from Azerbaijan in 1991 with military support from neighboring Armenia, and a peace process has yet to be implemented.

Three UN Security Council resolutions and two UN General Assembly resolutions refer to Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe refers to the region as being occupied by Armenian forces.

The Armenian occupation led to the closing of the frontier with Turkey, which sides with Baku in the dispute.