Azerbaijan`s First Lady holds several meetings in French National Assembly - UPDATE - PHOTOS

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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23.05.2013
12:21
Azerbaijan`s first lady, president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, head of the working group on Azerbaijan-France interparliamentary ties, Mehriban Aliyeva met Wednesday president of the Foreign Affairs Commission at the French National Assembly Elisabeth Guigou.

The president of the commission said Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva`s visit to Paris would contribute to strengthening cooperation between the two countries` legislative bodies. Mrs. Guigou praised relationship between Azerbaijan and France in all spheres. She also hailed Azerbaijan`s relations with European institutions.

Head of the working group on Azerbaijan-France interparliamentary ties Mehriban Aliyeva said European integration was one of the key priorities in Azerbaijan`s foreign policy.

Praising Azerbaijan`s relations with the European Union, Mrs. Aliyeva noted her country was an active participant in the organization`s Eastern Partnership program.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the first lady underscored the necessity of solving the problem on the basis of principles of international law.

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22.05.2013
12:41
Azerbaijan`s First Lady, president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, head of the working group on Azerbaijan-France interparliamentary ties in Milli Majlis, Mehriban Aliyeva has held several meetings in the French National Assembly. 

The First Lady was welcomed by speaker of the National Assembly, Claude Bartolone, who called Mrs. Mehriban 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 Azerbaijan-France relationship in political, economic, cultural and other spheres. He stressed the role of Mrs. Aliyeva in construction of a French lyceum in Baku.
Mehriban Aliyeva hailed the current level of Azerbaijan-France relationship, stressing that it was developing in all spheres. The First Lady briefed Bartolone on the consequences of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Mehriban Aliyeva noted a number of Azerbaijan-related cultural events had been held in France, adding the Heydar Aliyev Foundation continues projects in this direction.

Then a delegation of MPs led by head of the working group on Azerbaijan-France interparliamentary ties, Mehriban Aliyeva met chairman of France-Azerbaijan friendship group in the National Assembly, Thierry Mariani.

They stressed the importance of developing the relations between the legislative bodies of the two countries, intensifying the activities of working groups, expanding the cooperation within international organizations.

The same day a dinner was given for the French delegation in the Azerbaijan Culture Center in Paris.

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09:45
Azerbaijan`s First Lady, president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva has met Catherine Pegard, director of the Palace of Versailles at the Azerbaijani Cultural Center in the French capital.

Mehriban Aliyeva and Catherine Pegard exchanged keepsakes, and discussed how to further boost cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Palace of Versailles in the field of culture.
Mrs. Aliyeva said two monuments at Versailles were restored by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation stressed the importance of implementing such projects in the future. Azerbaijan`s First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva invited Catherine Pegard to visit her country.

Catherine Pegard expressed gratitude to the First Lady for her assistance in restoration of the two monuments at the Palace of Versailles. She said such projects make a significant contribution to relations between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Palace of Versailles.
The sides agreed to hold presentations of Azerbaijani culture at Versailles and organize exhibitions of the Versailles museum in Baku.