Azerbaijani opposition calls government to sign association agreement with EU

A broad range of Azerbaijani oppositional forces have urged the government to promptly sign the association agreement with the European Union. At the same time, they expressed their negative attitude to the prospect of Azerbaijan's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEC).

About 100 Azerbaijani representatives of political parties, civil society activists and media professionals have adopted a document entitled "Declaration on Azerbaijan's attitude to the Association Agreement with the European Union".

On June 23, inBaku, the Media Centre of the Institute of Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) hosted a presentation of the above document, which was timed to the upcoming on June 27 signing of EU's Association Agreements with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

"The signing of a similar agreement was also offered by the EU to Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, the authorities refuse, for the sake of their group interests, to pursue deeper integration with the EU and hinder the country from the democratic way of development," Jamil Gasanli, the Chairman of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF), said at the presentation of the declaration.