Azerbaijan gains successful experience in elections - French Senator
By Nazrin Gadimova
Azerbaijan has gained successful experience in holding elections and achieved rapid development in various fields, member of the French Senate, Head of the Senate's observation mission Nathalie Goulet said at a meeting with Azerbaijani Parliamentary Speaker Ogtay Asadov on October 7.
Goulet said she repeatedly took part in the elections in Azerbaijan as an observer, and emphasized that the Senate's observation mission will monitor the election process both in Baku and in the regions of Azerbaijan.
Members of the French delegation said Azerbaijan is successfully
walking on the path of democratic development.
In turn, Ogtay Asadov informed members of delegation on the
preparations for the presidential elections in Azerbaijan and said
that the main goal of the country is to hold free, transparent and
fair elections, and that there are all conditions for this.
Touching upon the Azerbaijani-French relations, Asadov said
political and economic cooperation between the two countries is at
a high level.
Asadov emphasized that signing about 40 documents between Azerbaijan and France strengthened the legal framework of cooperation. He also said that trade turnover between the two countries exceeded more than $2 two billion, and that there are about 40 French companies in Azerbaijan.
The friendship groups operating in the legislative bodies of the two countries are important for the development of their relations, Asadov underscored.
Earlier, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Azerbaijan's First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva received the French delegation led by Nathalie Goulet and exchanged views on preparations ahead of the upcoming presidential election in Azerbaijan.
Presidential elections in Azerbaijan will be held on October 9. This year ten candidates will compete for top job, including chairman of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, President Ilham Aliyev, Umid Party leader Igbal Aghazade, self-nominated candidate Zahid Oruj, chairman of the United Popular Front Party Gudrat Hasanguliyev, Modern Musavat party leader Hafiz Hajiyev, Azerbaijan Social Democratic Party chairman Araz Alizade, National Revival Party leader Faraj Guliyev, chairman of the Adalat (Justice) party Ilyas Ismayilov, Jamil Hasanli from the opposition National Council as well as chairman of the Azerbaijan Democratic Party Sardar Jalaloghlu.