EU President proposes to build democracy brick by brick

The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, called for broad participation of civil institutions of Azerbaijan in the process of democratic development and expansion of the EU-Azerbaijan relations. Speaking on Thursday at the University of Foreign Languages in Baku, he reminded that civil institutions in Europe have played an important role in establishing lasting peace and cooperation among countries that have for years been in a confrontation. Thus, he made it clear that Azerbaijan and Armenia must use European experience of the settlement, which is based on the look to the future rather than past experience.

     The President noted that the EU will support the settlement process within the OSCE Minsk Group and the Basic Madrid Principles, as well as to take part in the reconstruction of war-affected regions after the conclusion of peace. However, he expressed concern with a violation of the armistice, and the EU urged the parties to refrain from violence. 

      Van Rompuy called Azerbaijan a strategic partner of the EU, not only as transport and energy corridor, but holds the same views on many international issues, including Iran's problems.

    Arab spring accelerated the process of deepening cooperation with its neighbors in the neighborhood policy, said Van Rompuy, noting that this policy has been considerably strengthened by last year's Warsaw Summit, the EU "Eastern Partnership".

 Pointing out that Azerbaijan is busy building a house under the name of democracy, the president of the EU said: "It is impossible to build a house and democracy in one day. You should buukd it brick by brick, because it is a lengthy process. I am sure that Azerbaijan will build this house."

         Herman Van Rompuy was also awarded an honorary doctorate of the Institute of Foreign Languages.   The Rector of the University  Samed Seyidov noted half-jokingly that the post of president is temporary, but the degree of Doctor  is eternal, and the university will wait for Dr.Rompuy’s speech  in the future.  By this the Rector smoothed further embarrassment to the program of the Van Rompuy, according to which the latter had to answer questions from the audience. The meeting was started very late, and there was no time for questions. Seyidov referred to the tight schedule of the guest,  and quickly saw him  off.—0—