Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Feb 4 2005

SPEAKER OF AZERBAIJAN PARLIAMENT INVITES HIS FRENCH COUNTERPART TO
VISIT AZERBAIJAN

APPROPRIATE LETTER OF INVITATION WAS PRESENTED TO THE FRENCH
AMBASSADOR IN BAKU
[February 04, 2005, 22:48:14]

Speaker of Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Republic Murtuz Alaskarov on
February 4 has received ambassador of France in Azerbaijan Rolan
Blatman.

Noting high level of the relations between two countries, Mr.
Alaskarov said the heads of states have great role in this. After the
visit of the nationwide leader of Azerbaijan people Heydar Aliyev to
France in 1993, the negotiations he carried out there, the bilateral
relations acquired higher level. That visit of Azerbaijan President
has defined perspectives of Azerbaijani-French relations. Due to
this, the parliamentary links also develop successfully, the Speaker
said.

Then, Chairman of Milli Majlis updated on the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He, in particular, noted that despite of
the Resolutions of the UN Security Council, the Council of Europe and
the demand of other international organizations, neither the said
structures nor the OSCE Minsk Group directly engaged in the problem
do not impose sharp sanction against the aggressor. We hope France,
as a co-chair of Minsk Group, will increase its efforts in this
direction, Mr. Alaskarov underlined.

Ambassador Rolan Blatman said his country adheres peaceful settlement
of the conflict. He had widely discussed the question in his recent
meeting with the president of Azerbaijan. We are interested in
all-round relations with Azerbaijan, he stressed. The diplomat also
informed that the French Cultural Center would open shortly in Baku.
At the same time, the parliamentary friendship groups of two
countries will hold a meeting in the capital of Azerbaijan. Speaker
of the French Parliament also wished to take part at the actions. In
mid-year, a meeting of the inter-governmental commission is expected
in Paris. In 2005, the Days of France will pass in Azerbaijan and the
Days of Azerbaijan – in France.

Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament invited his French counterpart to
visit Azerbaijan and conveyed appropriate letter of invitation to the
Ambassador.

In the meeting, also were exchanged views on a number of questions of
mutual interest.