French Senate hosts conference on Azerbaijan's foreign policy

A conference titled "Foreign Policy of Azerbaijan: prospects and challenges" was conducted in France on March 2 upon the initiative of Azerbaijani Embassy in France, in cooperation with the leadership of the French Senate and the Institute of France-Europe Asia, Azerbaijani Embassy in France reported.

Moderator of the conference, the President of the Administrative Council of the Institute Reno Abor de Chatillon made a report, highlighting the milestones of history, culture, economics and politics of contemporary Azerbaijan as one of the most dynamically developing states in the Eurasian region.

Later, a speech was made by the President of the Senate's France-Caucasus Friendship Committee, Senator Ambroise Dupont, who touched upon the issues of intensification of bilateral parliamentary relations and emphasized the invaluable contribution in this regard by the National Leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, who has spearheaded the establishment of the French-Azerbaijani relations.

He also mentioned the special role of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, who successfully heads a charitable foundation named after the national leader, in continuing this way.

Welcoming the event participants, the Azerbaijani Ambassador to France Elchin Amirbeyov presented to the participants the important issues of social, political, cultural and economic life of contemporary Azerbaijan, focusing on the priorities and challenges of country's foreign policy.

He presented to the attention of the participants Azerbaijan's position on the prospects of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement in the context of following the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan on the basis of respect for the rules and principles of international law, relevant resolutions of UN Security Council and General Assembly, other international organizations, as well as taking into account the positions of heads of Minsk Group co-chairs states as reflected in the declarations of G8 L'Aquila and Muskoka summits.

Touching upon the current state of cooperation with the EU, the ambassador highlighted the prospects of realization of energy projects in the context of the important contribution of Azerbaijan in ensuring the energy security of Europe. Separately, he highlighted the current state and prospects of bilateral Azerbaijani-French relations as equal to Azerbaijan's relations with neighboring states.

Regarding the stably and dynamically developing economy of Azerbaijan, the Ambassador noted the importance that country's leadership attaches to diversifying the economy, regional development and attracting domestic and foreign investment in non-energy sector of national economy, exactly opening up great opportunities in the agricultural, construction, industrial, information, finally tourism sectors, given that 2011 was declared the Year of Tourism in the country.

Particular attention in ambassador's speech was paid to telling about the consequences of Armenia's aggressive policy against Azerbaijan, which resulted in the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts of Azerbaijan, as well as the anti-human practices of ethnic cleansing committed by the Armenian invaders in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and in the historical Azerbaijani lands.

The ambassador especially highlighted the genocide in Khojaly, Armenia's continued colonization of occupied territories with the help of the Armenian settlers and the country's barbaric policy of destruction of the unique cultural heritage of Azerbaijan in Armenia itself and in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Published by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the relevant materials telling about the above-mentioned crimes against humanity committed by the Armenian militarists in the occupied Azerbaijani lands were distributed to the event participants.

Later the ambassador answered many questions asked by the participants, including French political scientists and students of Armenian origin who attended the conference. The audience, which comprised of senators, staffers of the Senate of France, representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Paris, local media outlets, think tanks and other sectors of French public, accepted the event with genuine interest and actively participated in the debates that took place after the speeches.

In conclusion, the President of the Administrative Council of the Institute of France-Europe-Asia thanked the Azerbaijani side for initiating the conference and stressed the importance of such events to raise the awareness of the French public about Azerbaijan and the processes in this friendly country for France.


/Trend/