INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS DISCUSS EU APPROACH TO CASPIAN REGION

Azerbaijan National and International Studies Center held an international conference
on "The EU approach towards the Caspian: soft power or realpolitik".

"Over the past three years, research groups have studied EU policy and the realities
in the Mediterranean, Baltic, Black and Caspian Sea regions .The studies covered
security, energy security, free access to domestic market, visa regimes, and attitudes
towards democracy and human rights," said the head of the Center Leyla Aliyeva.

According to the coordinator of EU4SEAS organization Jordi Vaquer, democracy was a
priority in the Baltic Sea Region in 2007, and in Black Sea Region in 2008. " However,
the Russian-Georgian war in 2008 showed democracy in conflict with military force
in this region. There are two approaches to democracy in the Caspian Sea Region:
development of sovereign democracy, and democratic development via the influence of
other regions' democractic systems. The improvement of management in this region is
important. These issues must be considered based on the countries' geo-political and
domestic contexts," he argued.

At the same time, experts consider that changes to the international political scene
have given rise to new approaches to these issues. " These changes will pave the way
for new approaches," said expert Carmen Claudin.
According to a professor at the Azerbaijan University of Languages, Nasib Nasibli,
the EU has a demonstrated interest in energy and global security in the Capsian Sea
region. At the same time, geopolitical views are compeletely different. The Nagorno
Karabakh, North Caucasus, Abkhazia and South Ossetia conflicts all constitute
challenge to cooperation."
He also argued that "EU programs for the regions are not successful. The EU
Neighborhood Policy and Eastern Partnership Program have not had any impact on
the development of the defense of democracy and human rights. I believe that what is
needed is a differentiated approach to each of the three countries, rather than a uniform
policy."

Experts noted that the respective presidents are not concerned about the development
of democracy. " Today, Europe imports gas from Russia, Norway, and Algeria. Soon
Algeria and Norway will decrease their exports and Europe's dependence on Russia
will increase. The alternative source for Europe is the Caspian Sea," said the director
of Mediterranean Observatory Sohbet Karbuz during the conference. Discussing
transportation routes, Karbus said that he favors the EU's Nabucco project.
Another expert, Moscow State University professor Victoria Panova said that
the disputed legal status of the Caspian Sea is preventing the realization of energy
projects. According to her, Iran is a risk. Isolated from international community, Iran
will misuse its resources, and prevent transportation projects and the construction of
the Trans Caspian gas pipeline. The head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, Roland
Kobia, said that EU policy in the Caspian Sea Region is values-based, just as it is in
other countries. The EU doesn't want to force other countries to agree to something;
they support mutually respectful dialogue and agreement.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• INTERNATIONAL
• EXPERTS
• DISCUSS
• EU
• APPROACH
• TO
• CASPIAN
• REGION