“Azerbaijan deserves special attention from the European Union as an island of stability in a region under pressure,” former Prime Minister of Belgium Yves Leterme said at the Southeast Europe and Trans-Caspian Business Summit organized by The Economist within the framework of the 13th Global Baku Forum.
He stated that Azerbaijan’s economy has great development potential under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev.
“We must understand that Azerbaijan’s attention must be earned. We are obliged to respect Azerbaijan as a partner with whom dialogue is necessary. For example, when we adopt resolutions by interfering in the internal affairs of a country like Azerbaijan, we must understand that we are closing the doors for future negotiations,” Leterme said.
He also accused the European Union of applying double standards:
“As a citizen of the European Union, I am ashamed to look Azerbaijanis in the eye. For years, on the one hand we interfere in Azerbaijan’s internal affairs, and the next day we come and ask: ‘Can you sell us more gas?’ I think this is shameful.”
