Azerbaijan, France enjoy vast potential for developing relations

Baku, January 17, AZERTAC Azerbaijan`s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has met with Secretary of State at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne as part of his working visit to Paris. The ministers praised the current level of bilateral and multilateral relations between Azerbaijan and France. They highlighted the existence of vast potential for developing relations between the two countries in different spheres. Noting his official visit paid to Azerbaijan, as the first member of newly formed French Government, the Secretary of State hailed the results of the trip and the meeting with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. They exchanged views on the current status of negotiations for the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Minister Elmar Mammadyarov provided thorough information on the latest negotiation process on resolution of conflict and adding that that he will meet with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs and the Foreign Minister of Armenia on January 18, 2018 in Krakow, Poland. Touching upon the facts of establishing illicit relations by some towns of France with the illegal regime established by Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and entry of agents of puppet regime into the territory of France, Elmar Mammadyarov underlined the importance of taking necessary measures by central Government of France to prevent such ill actions. Having reviewed the economical-trade relations between Azerbaijan and France, the sides highlighted the dynamic development of bilateral cooperation in energy, transport, subway, space industry, agricultural, educational, cultural and other fields. It was also noted that more than 50 French companies operate in Azerbaijan in various sectors. Underlining the close cooperation between Azerbaijan and France in the field of education, the sides noted the Joint Azerbaijani-French University as a vivid example of this cooperation. Touching upon Azerbaijan-European Union relations, FM Mammadyarov said that negotiations on the strategic partnership document between Azerbaijan and EU are going on and the relations develop successfully. At the end of the meeting in the presence of ministers the agreements on cooperation in Financing and Dissertation and Framework were signed between Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) and Montpellier University. The agreements were signed by President of ANAS Akif Alizade and Vice-President on international relations of Montpellier University Francois Henn.