Reception in honor of the National Day of France

At the invitation of Foreign Minister of France, Laurent Fabius,  the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, will pay a visit to Paris on July 31, said the French Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Pascal Monier, on  July 14 at a reception to mark the national holiday of France, the Bastille Day.

    The French diplomat noted with satisfaction the successful development of bilateral relations in various spheres. He pointed to the presence of French companies in the energy and non-oil sector  of Azerbaijan.

    The Ambassador noted the potential for cooperation in the fields of transport, environment, urban infrastructure, agriculture, etc.  Monier also focused on the development of relations in the field of education, culture and humanitarian sphere.

    However, he stressed the construction of a French lyceum in Baku,  in which  700 children will study.

    An example of successful cooperation in the cultural sphere Monier called the exhibition "Treasures of France" in spring this year, which was attended by 40,000 people, as well as organizing exhibitions "Flight of Baku" in Paris. The Azerbaijani Finance Minister, Samir Sharifov, passing greetings of the President and the government of Azerbaijan,  noted great importance attached by Baku  to relations with Paris. He also noted that Azerbaijan is one of the largest trading partner of France in the CIS, and the largest partner in the South Caucasus. Sharifov also appreciated the support by France the Azerbaijan's integration into European structures and the formation of democratic institutions.

    However,  Sharifov noted  that Azerbaijan calls on France, as co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group, to improve efforts  for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict on the basis of international law and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. -06C--