Brussels hosts Eastern Partnership Foreign Ministers` Meeting

Baku, December 14 (AzerTAc). The second Foreign Ministers` meeting within the framework of the Eastern Partnership has been held in Brussels, Belgium.
The meeting drew high level participation from the EU, including 27 EU Member States, the EU Council, the European Commission, the six Eastern European Partner countries (hereinafter the Partner countries), the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the Committee of the Regions (COR), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The meeting was chaired by the HR/VP Catherine Ashton, joined by Commissioner Stefan Fьle.
Recalling the Eastern Partnership Declaration, adopted at the Summit on 7 May 2009 in Prague, Ministers underlined that the Partnership is based on commitments to the principles of international law and to fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law and the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as to market economy, sustainable development and good governance. They also underlined the importance of the principles of inclusiveness, differentiation and conditionality, as well as joint ownership. Ministers expressed the need for a strong link between the ongoing review of the European Neighborhood Policy and the further development of the EaP.
The Ministers also emphasized the strategic importance of the Eastern Partnership as a way to deepen and strengthen relations between the EU and the Partner countries, to accelerate political association, further economic integration and approximation towards the European Union and to support political and socio-economic reforms of the Partner countries.
Azerbaijan`s deputy foreign minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev attended the event.