France’s FM confident in boosting economic relations with Azerbaijan
By Nigar Orujova
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has said at a meeting with Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov that he is confident in the development of economic relations with Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said on July 24.
The meeting was held during the Azerbaijani foreign minister's visit to Paris.
Fabius highlighted Azerbaijani First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva's contribution to the development of cultural relations between the two countries and expressed his gratitude to Azerbaijan for supporting the establishment of a French lyceum in Baku.
The foreign ministers of the two countries discussed issues of bilateral cooperation, regional security, energy cooperation, as well as the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Minister Mammadyarov informed his counterpart about the negotiation process on the conflict settlement. He stressed that it must be resolved to restore peace and stability in the region.
The Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. The two South Caucasus neighbors fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a precarious cease-fire in 1994. Armenian armed forces have since occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory. Peace talks brokered by US, Russian and French mediators through the OSCE Minsk Group have been largely fruitless so far.
In July, French Ambassador to Azerbaijan Pascal Monnier said that France and Azerbaijan have relations based on mutual trust. "France is interested in an independent and strong Azerbaijan," he said.
Monnier also expressed confidence in furthering the political and economic relations between the two countries, as well as the scientific, educational and cultural cooperation.
An extensive legal framework has been established for the development of the two countries' relations. So far, 42 documents have been signed.