Azerbaijan did not go to the Union with the European Union to maintain good Relations with Russia, said the head of the Council of state support to NGOs under the President of Azerbaijan Republic, the people's Deputy of the Parliament Azay Guliyev.

"why Baku has not signed the Association agreement? Azerbaijan does not want to spoil Relations with Russia. We do not wish to be dependent government, a puppet in the hands of certain circles in the West. They put pressure to spoil our Relations to Azerbaijan made a choice between Russia and the West. But We do it because We believe the Russian Federation is our friend, we don't wish to spoil Relations, " he told reporters.

The project "Eastern partnership" aimed at political and economic integration of the EU with six Eastern European and Caucasus republics of the former Soviet Union. 3 of them (Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova) in 2014 signed an Association agreement with the EU.

Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan is starting the procedure of stopping membership in the program " Eastern partnership ". Vice-speaker Valeh Aleskerov at the meeting of the Majlis read out a message informing about temporary suspension of membership in the parliamentary Assembly of the Eastern partnership Euronest and the inter-parliamentary cooperation Committee. Also the Milli Majlis in response to the resolution of the European Parliament has asked the government to reconsider the question of participation in the EU program " Eastern partnership ".

Guliyev also said that Western countries put pressure on Azerbaijan, trying to force to connect to the sanctions against Russia.

"at the moment We are experiencing strong pressure from foreign organizations, from Europe and the USA. They all want to (We) joined the sanctions against Russia, They want us to be a part of their program, " he said.

Relations between Russia and the West deteriorated in connection with the situation in Ukraine. At the end of July 2014, the EU and the US said the penalties against entire sectors of the Russian economy. In response Russia in the last month of the summer of 2014 limited the import of food items from countries that have imposed against her punishment. At the end of June 2015 in response to the extension of the punishment the authorities of the Russian Federation has decided to extend food embargo until 5 August 2016.

sections: Politics