▁ 2 0 0 3 - 2 0 0 5 , ▁ 2 0 1 7 - 2 0 1 9 , ▁and ▁UN ▁Human ▁Rights ▁Council ▁for ▁the ▁period ▁of ▁ 2 0 0 6 - 2 0 0 9 . ▁President ▁Il ham ▁Ali ye v ▁approved ▁Country ▁Program me ▁Action ▁Plan ▁for ▁ 2 0 0 5 - 2 0 0 9 ▁between ▁A zer ba ij an ▁and ▁UN ICE F ▁signed ▁on ▁December ▁ 2 9 , ▁ 2 0 0 5 . ▁ ▁Rel ations ▁with ▁European ▁Union ▁▁ ▁Il ham ▁Ali ye v ▁has ▁been ▁expand ing ▁the ▁co operation ▁with ▁the ▁European ▁Union ▁( E U ) ▁since ▁his ▁presiden cy . ▁A ▁year ▁after ▁Mr . ▁Ali ye v ▁became ▁president , ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁A zer ba ij an ▁as ▁a ▁southern ▁C au cas us ▁country ▁has ▁been ▁a ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁European ▁Ne igh bour hood ▁Policy ▁( EN P ) ▁of ▁the ▁EU . ▁Two ▁years ▁later , ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁Il ham ▁Ali ye v ▁on ▁beh alf ▁of ▁A zer ba ij an , ▁and ▁Matt i ▁Van han en , ▁former ▁president ▁of ▁the ▁European ▁Council , ▁and ▁José ▁Manuel ▁Bar ro so , ▁former ▁president ▁of ▁the ▁Commission , ▁on ▁beh alf ▁of ▁the ▁EU ▁signed ▁the ▁Mem or and um ▁of ▁Under standing ▁on ▁a ▁Str ateg ic ▁Part ners hip . ▁▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0