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.