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Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan: â€œFrance does not recognize self-declared governmental bodies in Nagorno Karabakhâ€ â€“ INTERVIEW

Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan: â€œFrance does not recognize self-declared governmental bodies in Nagorno Karabakhâ€ â€“ <font color=red>INTERVIEW</font>

12 July 2012 12:16 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Victoria Dementieva â€“ APA. The interview of French ambassador to Azerbaijan Pascal Meunier to APA on occasion of the National Holiday of France â€“ Bastille Day

- How do you estimate the perspectives of development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and France?

- After restoration of Azerbaijanâ€™s independence, the relations between our countries had a privileged character: â€œThese relations that were established due to friendship and mutual respect uniting Jacques Chirac and Heydar Aliyev were continued by the impulse given by President Ilham Aliyev. Recall that Ilham Aliyev chose France for his first visit. The visits that have occurred at inter-parliamentary, ministerial and presidential levels over the last 20 years both propelled forward these relations and gave a significant diversification to them. The concrete realization of these relations is the establishment of French Lyceum in Baku. This idea was suggested during Paris meeting of President Nicolas Sarkozy and President Ilham Aliyev in December, 2009 and a corresponding agreement was signed between the countries during President Sarkozyâ€™s visit to Baku on October 7, 2011.

The bilateral relations in economic sphere developed largely. Thus, according to the figures of Azerbaijanâ€™s foreign trade statistics, the trade turnover was USD 4, 645 bln in 2011. It turned France into Azerbaijanâ€™s 2nd degree partner. France turned into the second purchaser of oil products after Italy. Of course, our sales are well below and at the level of USD 608 mln. This sphere is also developing with 6.2% growth dynamics. Our companies hold good positions in high technology sphere and support Azerbaijan in the development of economy. Azerbaijanâ€™s AZAL Company refills its park with â€œAirbusâ€ planes and ATRs considered for short- distance flights. â€œEurocopterâ€ furnishes â€œSilkwayâ€. The radars of â€œThalesâ€ company contribute to the countryâ€™s civil security. â€œArienespaceâ€ will place into orbit Azerbaijanâ€™s first â€œAzsatâ€ satellite from Guinea-based Kuru space port early 2013. Besides, France is satisfied to bring the goods of beautiful life and delicate taste to Azerbaijan.

Our companies are not satisfied with providing goods and services, they also contribute to the modernization of infrastructure in Azerbaijan.

French companies in oil sphere â€œAir Liquideâ€ and â€œTecechnipâ€, members of group of companies on oil and oil products express desire to participate in great industrial projects like SOCARâ€™s â€œStarâ€ (in Turkey) and â€œOgpcâ€ (in Azerbaijan).

Cultural exchange has never been so intensive as today. â€œPlaisirs de Franceâ€ (â€œPearls of Franceâ€) exhibition attracted more than 40,000 visitors in the Art Museum, this is a record! Many directors of French institutes arrived in Baku for the opening ceremonies, met with their counterparts and planned new projects. The progress is observed on some of them (for example, between the Carpet Museum and Pompidou Center). â€œFly Bakouâ€ exhibition that was organized in Paris with the assistance of Heydar Aliyev Foundation had a sensational success.

The construction of French Lyceum will give new dynamics for presence of French language in Baku and give an opportunity for Azerbaijani children to study in French language that is impossible today.

- What will be your main priorities as an Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan? What spheres do you plan to develop more?

I would prefer three spheres: At first, to strengthen the political dialogue. As you may know, a new government is formed in France. It is important for those passing political decisions in both countries to meet. It is necessary for giving an impetus to our cooperation and exchanging view on big international problems. France, as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, intends to play its role in full within the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. In this context, I am glad that the foreign ministers of both countries can meet in the near future.

As regards the issues on respect of individual freedoms and human rights, as you may know, France is closely related to these fundamental values, which deeply strengthened in the genes of our compatriots and established our republican society. France wishes to accompany the Azerbaijani government and people in way of political reforms and democracy modestly, but with empathy and attentively. We welcomed the latest positive orders by the Azerbaijani leadership (release of 9 participants of 2 April rally in 2011; establishment of dialogue forum with civil society and opposition; â€œCrossing Viewsâ€ (Ã‡arpaz BaxÄ±ÅŸ TV program project that holds debates with the civil societ nd opposition) and we, like our European partners, will pay attention to the respect of public freedoms in Azerbaijan.

Secondly, developing our economical exchanges and cooperation. Big companies of France have already operated in the hydrocarbon, cosmos and ecology spheres in Azerbaijan. With my counterparts in Paris we considered to strengthen cooperation in the other spheres including agriculture, urban development and national security spheres. I intend to establish French-Azerbaijan chamber of trade, as recently established in Paris, in Baku as soon as possible for strengthening the relations between small and middle enterprises of Azerbaijan and France.

Thirdly, we must develop our relations. The first superiority is the construction of lyceum. The leaderships of two countries attach great importance to this issue. I also intend to research and learn the strengthening methods of teaching French language with the universities and schools of Azerbaijan.

- In May the delegation of French senators visited the occupied territories of Azerbaijan- Nagorno Karabakh. In this regard the Ministry of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan sent a letter to MF of France and put the names of the senators to â€œblack listâ€. How would you comment that?

-The senators and deputies are elected representatives of people, as noted in the French Constitution, division of powers exists in France and they are free in their acts, positions and visits within the authority. In no case, they have no authority to express the official position of France, because this authority belongs only to the French government. France, like the other countries, recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and it means that France doesnâ€™t recognize self-declared governmental bodies in Nagorno Karabakh. This position of France has never changed from the Nagorno Karabakh conflict up to know.

- The meeting of the ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia was held on the 18th of June in Paris. What steps can France, as OSCE Minsk Group co-chair country, take to resolve the conflict?

-France, as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, has been actively implementing the mediating role between Azerbaijan and Armenia since ceasefire. France attempts to improve the communication between the countries at ministerial and presidential level, at the same time by the means of civil society. It is a long-term and difficult work, but France continues to propel this work forward decidedly and continuously and the meeting of the foreign minister in Paris on June 18 has shown it again. This meeting, which was held with the participation of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers at the first time after several months pause, gave an opportunity to hold negotiations in the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict considering the Sochi Declaration which was signed by the Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian presidents on January 23, 2012. We also spoke in Paris about the development of humanitarian aids, prevention mechanism of ceasefire violation and protection of historical and cultural areas. The co-chairs also expressed their deep concern about the latest incidents occurred on the frontline and underlined the importance of observation of agreement on ceasefire signed in 1994.

On the other hand, France, Russia and the US conduct work for full settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Incidentally, it played a significant role in drawing of Madrid principles, which are adopted by the both conflict parties as a basic document for negotiations. But despite the above-said, as the history has repeatedly showed us, irrespective of the countries, the peace can not be brought from outside, because the peace is a fruit of compromise of both parties that are in a conflict. Termination of sufferings of thousands of men, women and children can be a decision only of both sides.

- The Armenian lobby is very active in France. Does not this fact affect on preconception of France as the country’s co-chair in conflict resolution process?
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Yes, there is a minority of Armenian origin in France, and this minority, like the people of Africa, the Mediterranean Sea or Eastern Europe, left their countries, which were destroyed most of all by wars and crisis. These minorities play an active role in the economic, political and public life of our country. This fact is a result of republic integration and desire of people who struggled for peace, freedom, equality and brotherhood principles and the fact of dissolution of privileges 300 years ago.

On the other hand, we canâ€™t deny the efforts made by Azerbaijan in order to be known and heard in France. Our countries and societies cooperate in political and economical spheres, as well as they create balanced and rising relations on the firm base in the cultural sphere. It means that Azerbaijan is more and better known in France.