Azerbaijan`s First Lady holds meetings at French National Assembly
Azerbaijan`s First Lady, president of the Heydar Aliyev
Foundation, head of the working group on Azerbaijan-France
interparliamentary ties, Mehriban Aliyeva held Thursday several
meetings at the French National Assembly and Senate, AzerTac state
news agency reported.
Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva met Danielle Auroi, chairwoman of the
European Affairs Committee at the National Assembly.
They discussed relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union.
Mrs. Auroi praised Azerbaijan-France relationship, adding
cooperation between the two countries was developing in all
spheres. The chairwoman also highly appreciated prospects for
Azerbaijan-EU cooperation.
Head of the working group on Azerbaijan-France interparliamentary
ties Mehriban Aliyeva said development of cooperation with European
organizations was one of the key priorities in Azerbaijan`s foreign
policy. Mrs. Aliyeva noted Azerbaijan was an active participant in
EU`s Eastern Partnership program and energy projects. The First
Lady also spoke of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict.
Afterwards chief of the Senate`s France-Caucasus friendship group,
Ambruaz Dupont, hosted a working dinner for the Azerbaijani
delegation led by Mehriban Aliyeva. Dupont stressed the importance
of expansion of cooperation between friendship groups of the two
countries` parliaments. He highly appreciated the events aimed at
popularizing the Azerbaijani culture in France.
Mrs. Aliyeva underlined the significance of such meetings in terms
of development of cooperation between legislative bodies of
Azerbaijan and France. She said projects to promote Azerbaijan`s
rich culture in France would further be carried out.
Azerbaijan`s First Lady also met president of the Senate,
Jean-Pierre Bel. The Senate president stressed the role of Mehriban
Aliyeva in development of France-Azerbaijan relationship. He called
the First Lady a real friend of France. Jean-Pierre Bel also
thanked Mrs. Aliyeva for her contributions to popularizing the
French culture in Azerbaijan.
The president of the Senate praised Azerbaijan-France cooperation
in all spheres. He also underscored the importance of parliamentary
diplomacy in settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The First Lady highly appreciated efforts of France towards
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of
Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity. Mrs. Aliyeva expressed
confidence that relations between parliaments of the two countries
would continue to develop. "I am sure that the number of our
country`s friends at the French Senate will increase."
The First Lady of Azerbaijan also met Yamina Benguigui, minister
for la Francophonie and personal representative of the French
President to La Francophonie.
Mrs. Benguigui said the French government regards Azerbaijan`s
First Lady as a good friend of France and welcomes her
contributions to popularization of the Azerbaijani culture in
France and the entire world.
The French minister stressed the successes of the "Cultural values
of Azerbaijan - the Pearl of the Caucasus" project realized on the
initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in Paris and separate
regions of France. Mrs. Benguigui thanked Mehriban Aliyeva for her
assistance in popularizing the French culture and language in
Azerbaijan and opening a French lyceum in Baku.
Mrs. Aliyeva said France was an important partner for Azerbaijan.
She praised relations between the two countries in political,
economic and cultural areas.
The First Lady pointed out that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation would
continue carrying out the projects to popularize Azerbaijan in
France. She also expressed confidence that the project to build a
French lyceum in Baku would successfully be completed.
Then a dinner was given for Azerbaijan`s First Lady on behalf of
the minister for la Francophonie Yamina Benguigui.