Azerbaijan`s first lady holds meetings at French National Assembly
Paris, May 24 (AZERTAC). 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.
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. Mehriban 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 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.
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