“Integration of Azerbaijan into Europe” mulled in Paris

Paris has today hosted the conference entitled “Integration of Azerbaijan into Europe: challenges and prospects.”

Chairwoman of Organization of Integration of Azerbaijani Youth into Europe ( (AGAT) Gulsel Safarova opened the conference by saying that the event on “Integration of Azerbaijan into Europe: challenges and prospects” was co-organized by the AGAT, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in France and France-Azerbaijan Youth Association by the support of “Gazelli” and “AG Bank.”
AGAT chairwoman Gulsel Safarova informed the guests about her organization and said they are working for the development of Europe-Azerbaijan relations, intensification of youth activity in this field and strengthening cooperation with the European organizations.

AGAT founded in 2007 has so far implemented joint projects with the European Union, COuncil of Europe and European foundations. The organization joined the France network in 2010 and managed to reailzed a number of projects in Azerbaijan, Paris and Strasbourg.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to France Elchin Amirbeyov spoke about the integration of Azerbaijan into Europe. Minister recalling the historical connection of Azerbaijan and Europe in the economy, culture and humanitarian spheres said that today Azerbaijan was completely sharing the values of Europe and Euro-Atlantic institutions. He informed the audience about the establishment of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918, its loyalty to democratic values and the close cooperation between Europe and the first democratic republic in the East. After that he made a short historic excursus on the cooperation with European institutions after the restoration of independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Diplomat also stressed that the main obstacle for Azerbaijan is the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani lands and non-solution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Amirbeyov also touched upon Azerbaijani-France relations and underlined the significance of development of friendly relation between Azerbaijan and France within the European integration program.

Representative of the Center of Strategic Studies under the Presidential Administration Gulmira Rzayeva told about the Azerbaijan’s oil and gas policy toward the integration into Europe and its contributions to European energy security.

Law Professor of Baku State University Fazil Zeynalov spoke about the legal aspects of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and Armenian occupation policy.

Then the participants of the conference discussed other common themes. The participants shared different ideas and thoughts on such items as the role of Azerbaijan in South Caucasus, the relations with Turkey, Russia, Iran, and Georgia, as well as relations with France and Europe in educational sphere, the obstacles in the solution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.


/AzerTAc/