EU Commission President to visit Azerbaijan and Armenia on July 1-2

ArmInfo. European Commission President  Ursula von der Leyen will visit Azerbaijan and Armenia on July 1-2.

She will discuss with the authorities of the two republics the transformation of these countries into a transport corridor from Central Asia to Europe.  According to TASS, European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho announced this during a briefing in Brussels.

"On Wednesday next week, Ursula von der Leyen will travel to the  South Caucasus to express European support. On Wednesday, she will  travel to Azerbaijan, where she will meet with the President of that  country, and on Thursday, to Armenia, where she will meet with the  Prime Minister," Pinho said.  She emphasized that the head of the  European Commission will discuss the peace process between these  countries and EU investments in their transport infrastructure, with  the aim of turning Armenia and Azerbaijan into a "corridor from  Central Asia to Europe."

It should be noted that, according to other sources, the visit will  include discussions with Armenian authorities on easing trade  regulations to facilitate the supply of Armenian products to the  European market. A special EU civil society group has even been  established in Brussels, aimed at "helping Yerevan diversify trade  ties with Europe and reduce its dependence on Russia." During the  visit, von der Leyen is expected to announce several new EU  initiatives in the region, although their contents have not yet been  officially disclosed.