Azernews.Az

By Gulgiz Dadashova

A group of parliament members led by Azerbaijan's First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, is on a visit to Paris.

As part of the visit, the Azerbaijani First Lady, who chairs the working group of the Azerbaijani parliament for Azerbaijan-France interparliamentary relations, held several meetings at the French National Assembly on May 21.

Mehriban Aliyeva was welcomed by National Assembly Speaker Claude Bartolone, who called Mrs. Aliyeva a "great friend of France".

Bartolone said the First Lady`s visit to France would play an important role in strengthening ties between legislative bodies of the two countries.

The speaker also praised Azerbaijani-French relations in the political, economic, cultural and other fields. He stressed Mrs. Aliyeva's role in the construction of a French lyceum in Baku.

Aliyeva, for her part, hailed the current level of Azerbaijan-France relationship, stressing that it is developing in all spheres.

The First Lady briefed Bartolone on the consequences of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Referring to the Azerbaijan-related cultural events held in France, she said the Heydar Aliyev Foundation continues implementing projects in this regard.

Then the Azerbaijani delegation met with the chair of the France-Azerbaijan friendship group in the National Assembly, Thierry Mariani.

The parties stressed the importance of developing the relations between the legislative bodies of the two countries, stepping up the work of working groups and expanding the cooperation within international organizations.

The same day a dinner was served for a French delegation in the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Paris, which was established by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in order to step up the promotion of Azerbaijan in France and to increase its efficiency.

Located at the heart of Paris, near the Eiffel Tower, the cultural center is a historical building constructed in 1904. Exhibits reflecting Azerbaijan's history are displayed at the center, which has various halls.

The Foundation's cultural diplomacy has been playing a significant role in the promotion of Azerbaijan in France. Restoration of historical and cultural monuments and cultural sites is one of the essential facets in the activity of the Foundation.

In 2007, the Foundation supported restoration of ancient masterpieces in Versailles, Paris. Along with restoration work on two monuments in the Versailles castles the Foundation has supported restoration of a cathedral in the center of Strasbourg.

Furthermore, the Foundation has contributed to the restoration of seven churches dating back to the 10^th to 12^th centuries at the Orne department of France.

In 2010, Mehriban Aliyeva was honored with Officer Degree of the Legion of Honor Order by a resolution of the President of France for her merits to France.