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Azer Gasimov holds press conference on results of Azerbaijani presidentâ€™s visit to France

01 February 2007 16:29 (UTC +04:00)

He said countries with deep-rooted foreign political tradition, as well as France, attach great importance to the status of visits.
â€œMaximum three state visits are paid to France in a year. There were two such visits last year. Azebaijani presidentâ€™s being invited to pay an official visit to France is an obvious example that this country attaches great importance to the relations with Azerbaijan and these relations are of strategic characterâ€?, he noted.
He said that Ilham Aliyev had been interviewed by famous French newspaper â€œFigaroâ€? and the interview was published at the first day of the visit. Presidentâ€™s interview to diplomatic newspaper â€œLemondâ€? will be published in a few days. The Chief said French-Azerbaijani relations are improving successfully.
â€œThis visit gave impulse to the relationsâ€?, he said.
Azer Gasimov stressed out that memorandum, signed at the end of the visit, states that France supports the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
â€œWe should remember that Franceâ€™s being one of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs is an important point. It was stressed repeatedly during the visit that France is very concerned in the settlement of Armenian0Azernaijani Nagorno Karabakh conflict. President Ilham Aliyev gave detailed information about Armeniaâ€™s aggression against Azerbaijan and its results in each meeting. He highly appreciated Franceâ€™s position in the settlement of the conflictâ€?, he noted.
Azer Gasimov said that economic relations were also discussed during the visit. He added that the documents signed during the visit will contribute to the development of relations.
â€œA $97.2m agreement with was concluded with French company â€˜ARTâ€? for purchase of aircraftsâ€?, he said.
The chief stated that Azerbaijani president had met with the representatives of famous companies and discussed the energy cooperation. He said French President Jacques Chirac is expected to pay a visit to Azerbaijan in the first quarter of the year, but the date of the visit has not been set yet. He added that this year will be marked as â€œAzerbaijani year in Franceâ€? and next year as â€œFrench year in Azerbaijanâ€?. The relations between the capitals of both countries will also be developed, he noted. /APA/