Paris, 3 November 2005: President Stef Goris (Belgium, Liberal Group) on his return from an official visit to Azerbaijan, said the country was undergoing important political and economic change and would undoubtedly have an important role to play in the future. He emphasised that Europe had a specific interest in the establishment of peace and stability across the entire South Caucasus and should support efforts to end confrontation in the region. The present conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia could only be solved by peaceful means. Azerbaijan, with a mainly Muslim population, was an important ally in the fight against international terrorism and could act as a “firewall” against Muslim fundamentalism. President Goris believes that the upcoming elections on 6 November could provide the opportunity to reinforce the country’s developing democratic structures. The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, said in a meeting with President Goris, that one of his priorities was his country’s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. President Goris stressed that the Assembly would continue to provide a link to Europe for all the countries of the region. President Aliyev accepted an invitation to speak at the Assembly’s upcoming plenary session (5-7 December 2005, in Paris). President Goris also met the President of the National Assembly, Mr Murtuz Alaskarov, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Elmar Mammadyarov, the Defence Minister, Mr Safar Abiyev and a number of other ministers and parliamentarians from both the government benches and the opposition.
 

Assembly Rapporteurs on consultative missions to Addis Ababa, Brussels and Moscow
 
Rapporteurs responsible for various reports to be submitted to the Assembly’s plenary session (5-7 December 2005, in Paris) recently undertook consultative missions as follows: Charles Goerens (Luxembourg, Liberal Group), Rapporteur on “Peacekeeping in Africa: a practical approach” visited Addis Ababa; Andrea Manzella (Italy, Socialist Group), Rapporteur on “The way ahead for ESDP and its democratic scrutiny” visited Brussels, and Bart van Winsen (Netherlands, Federated Group), co-Rapporteur for the report on “Fighting international terrorism: a challenge for Europe” visited Moscow.

Mr Goerens met the President of the Commission of the African Union, Alpha Oumar Konaré, and Peace and Security Commissioner Said Djinnit to discuss future EU support for the emerging African security architecture and for African-led peace support operations on the continent. He also attended a preparatory meeting between the African Union and Regional Economic Communities/Regions and international donor partners to discuss the African Standby Force. Mr Goerens will present his conclusions and recommendations at a press conference on 9 November 2005 at 11.00 at the Centre d’Accueil de la Presse Etrangère (CAPE), Maison de Radio France.

Mr Manzella met the Chairman of the EU Military Committee, General Rolando Mosca Moschini, and high ranking EU officials in the Council secretariat.

Mr van Winsen attended a conference in Moscow on “The place and role of parliaments in the fight against international terrorism”, organised by the Council of the Russian Federation and the Belgian Senate under the chairmanship of President Mironov and President Lizin. Addressing the conference, Mr van Winsen stressed that international cooperation and a common strategy were essential for success in the fight against international terrorism. National legislations on terrorism should be harmonised at EU level even if the consequence was a partial loss of sovereignty for the member states.