Embassy of France Celebrates National Holiday with Reception

Baku / 13.07.19 / Turan: The French Embassy in Baku on Friday evening organized a solemn reception on the occasion of the Bastille Day, celebrated on July 14, the national holiday of this country.

In her welcoming speech, Ambassador Aurélia Bouchez noted the importance of this day in the history of France and its role in the subsequent democratic development of the country.

Referring to bilateral relations, she noted the strengthening of ties, emphasizing the contribution to the expansion of cooperation of high-level reciprocal visits.

The Ambassador pointed to even greater political dialogue.

Bouchez also noted the importance of Azerbaijan in ensuring peace and security in the Caspian region. The ambassador stressed the great importance of the projects of the Southern Gas Corridor and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway for connecting Europe and Asia.

As an eloquent example of the development of economic ties between the two countries, the Ambassador, called this week's visit to Azerbaijan of a representative delegation of French business circles with the participation of leaders of 70 companies.

The visit of the delegation headed by the President of the Business Council of the French Business Organization (MEDEF) Geoffrey Roux de Beziers testifies to the growing interest of French companies in Azerbaijan, Boushez said.

Inter-parliamentary ties are also developing. Members of the France-Caucasus friendship group of the French National Assembly will visit Azerbaijan in September.

On behalf of the government of Azerbaijan, Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov delivered a congratulatory message.

He recalled that France was one of the first to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan.

As Khalafov noted, Azerbaijan and France have close friendly ties, an active political dialogue is being conducted between the two states.

In recent years, humanitarian ties have also developed between the two countries.

The real results are brought by efforts to develop cooperation in the field of economy, science, education and culture, Khalafov said.

He also expressed the hope that France, as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, will increase efforts to resolve the Karabakh conflict on the basis of the norms of international law. -06D--