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French Senate praises Azerbaijan's economic development

5 December 2014 11:49 (UTC+04:00)
French Senate praises Azerbaijan's economic development

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan’s First Lady, Head of the Azerbaijan-France interparliamentary friendship group at the Azerbaijani Parliament Mehriban Aliyeva has met with President of the French Senate Gerard Larcher in Paris.

Gerard Larcher hailed relations between the two countries in various fields, and noted the importance of interparliamentary ties in the development of cooperation.

Speaking on recent elections at the Senate, Larcher said the structure of the France-Caucasus friendship group would be re-formed and new chairman would be elected.

He hailed Aliyeva’s contributions to the development of relations with France as head of the Azerbaijan-France interparliamentary friendship group and president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The French Senate's president praised rapid economic development in Azerbaijan.

He expressed his country’s readiness to contribute to the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as the co-chair of the Minsk group.

Mehriban Aliyeva hailed political, economic and cultural relations between Azerbaijan and France.

“Economic relations between our countries are rapidly developing. More than 50 French companies operate in Azerbaijan. A number of humanitarian projects have already been realized and the process will be continued,” she stressed.

Mehriban Aliyeva expressed readiness to contribute to the development of relations between the two countries’ legislative bodies as head of the friendship group with France at the Parliament.

She said Azerbaijan backed peace and stability in the region.

“From this point of view, the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is important. But because of Armenia’s non-constructive position, the peace talks, which have been continuing for more than 23 years, have not yet yielded any positive results,” the first lady stressed.

“Following the Paris meeting of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia held on the initiative of French President François Hollande, Armenia conducted large-scale military training operations in the occupied lands of Azerbaijan. That was Armenia’s provocative step. Of course, such steps impede the peaceful settlement of the conflict,” she noted.

Aliyeva went on to say that Azerbaijan supports the settlement of the conflict by peaceful means and in compliance with international legal norms.

She expressed hope that “the conflict will soon find its just settlement, our occupied territories will be liberated and our refugees and IDPs will return to their homelands”.

The first lady also touched upon the cultural and humanitarian relations between France and Azerbaijan, particularly in the field of protection of cultural heritage.

The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has implemented a number of relevant projects, the president of the Foundation added.

She also noted Azerbaijan would hold the first European Games next year, and informed the French Senate president on the preparatory works. Aliyeva also invited Gerard Larcher to Azerbaijan to attend the opening ceremony of the European Games.

The sides agreed to continue cultural projects and organize Azerbaijan-related events at the French Senate.

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