Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 7 2004

President to leave for France September 7

Baku, September 6, AssA-Irada

President Ilham Aliyev is expected to leave for France on September 7.

On the first day of the visit, Aliyev will meet with his French
counterpart Jacques Chirac to discuss issues pertaining to bilateral
relations and peace settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict, the
French Embassy in Baku said.

Also discussed will be investments by French companies in Azerbaijan.

On September 9, a ceremony on presenting the goodwill ambassador
title to the President’s wife Mehriban Aliyeva will be held at the
UNESCO residence in Paris.

Commenting on President Aliyev’s visit, prominent political scholar
Rasim Musabayov said that before the forthcoming talks in Astana, the
President may clarify certain details in his meeting President Chirac.

“Presidents Chirac and Putin of Russia have leverage to influence
the Armenian leadership. The use of the French President’s political
potential may appear productive to President Aliyev, although such
meetings did not yield any results in the past”, Musabayov said.*