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FRANCE READY TO HELP AZERBAIJAN-ARMENIA REACH DEAL, SAYS HOLLANDE
Daily Sabah, Turkey
May 13 2014
by Daily Sabah
BAKU, Azerbaijan -- France has stepped up its political relationship
with Azerbaijan after the presidents of the two countries met in a
bilateral conference yesterday. French President Francois Hollande met
with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the Azeri capital of Baku
yesterday where he pledged his support for the ex - Soviet country.
Following their bilateral meeting, the two held a joint press
conference where the French President pointed out the three main
themes of the conference; the Azerbaijan-France business forum that is
expected to bring 200 Azerbaijani and 90 French businessmen together,
the creation of the French lyceum in Baku and the unresolved two
decades long Nagorny-Karabakh conflict which threatens Azerbaijan's
territorial integrity.
While being the first stop in President Hollande's three day visit to
the south Caucasus, Baku is of significance for French President where
European and French companies are heavily involved in the Azerbaijan's
several industrial sectors.
As Azerbaijan is the leading state in the economic field in the region
of Caucasus, France has given greater importance to Azerbaijan's energy
sector. President Hollande is accompanied with a large delegation
of businessmen to the business forum held in May 12. "Our goal is
to support the development of Azerbaijani economy, in particular the
energy sector.
France is also ready to support Azerbaijan's development in other
areas," said the French president according to Azernews. Azerbaijan's
Economy and Industry Minister Shahin Mustafayev gave a speech at
the opening of the business forum by stating that the cooperation in
the investment sphere between the two countries would be expected to
develop significantly. "The corresponding agreement will be signed
today.
Aside from that, nearly dozens of commercial agreements on Azerbaijani
and French entrepreneurs' joint projects, worth billions of dollars,
will be signed as part of this forum," said Mustafayev. According
to the reports, France is the fifth largest foreign investor in
Azerbaijan with the heavy investment close to $1 billion (TL 2.08
billion) in the energy sector.
Gas and oil groups such as TOTAL and GDF SUEZ are getting ready to
take part in the exploration and development of the Absheron gas
field. Apart from developing economic ties between two countries,
President Hollande underscored the importance of Azerbaijan's
territorial unity regarding the fruitless negotiations on resolving
the Nagorny-Karabakh conflict. "The situation remains tense, and there
have been tens of thousands of deaths, and recently there have been
some incidents as well. So, France will do everything it possibly can
in its capacity as co-chair of the Minsk Group to assist Azerbaijan and
Armenia to find a peaceful solution," the French president stressed.
Supporting Azerbaijan's national unity is believed to be of the
utmost importance for France and the European Union amid Ukraine
crisis. The French president's visit is seen as an important step for
the EU to boost the existing relations with the ex- Soviet countries
that have been in the sphere of Russian influence. President Hollande
continues his official trip with the next stop, Armenia where 500,000
French of Armenian origin form a political constituency. The talks
over the Nagorny-Karabakh conflict are expected to continue with
Armenian leaders.
http://www.dailysabah.com/asia/2014/05/13/france-ready-to-help-azerbaijanarmenia-reach-deal-says-hollande
Daily Sabah, Turkey
May 13 2014
by Daily Sabah
BAKU, Azerbaijan -- France has stepped up its political relationship
with Azerbaijan after the presidents of the two countries met in a
bilateral conference yesterday. French President Francois Hollande met
with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the Azeri capital of Baku
yesterday where he pledged his support for the ex - Soviet country.
Following their bilateral meeting, the two held a joint press
conference where the French President pointed out the three main
themes of the conference; the Azerbaijan-France business forum that is
expected to bring 200 Azerbaijani and 90 French businessmen together,
the creation of the French lyceum in Baku and the unresolved two
decades long Nagorny-Karabakh conflict which threatens Azerbaijan's
territorial integrity.
While being the first stop in President Hollande's three day visit to
the south Caucasus, Baku is of significance for French President where
European and French companies are heavily involved in the Azerbaijan's
several industrial sectors.
As Azerbaijan is the leading state in the economic field in the region
of Caucasus, France has given greater importance to Azerbaijan's energy
sector. President Hollande is accompanied with a large delegation
of businessmen to the business forum held in May 12. "Our goal is
to support the development of Azerbaijani economy, in particular the
energy sector.
France is also ready to support Azerbaijan's development in other
areas," said the French president according to Azernews. Azerbaijan's
Economy and Industry Minister Shahin Mustafayev gave a speech at
the opening of the business forum by stating that the cooperation in
the investment sphere between the two countries would be expected to
develop significantly. "The corresponding agreement will be signed
today.
Aside from that, nearly dozens of commercial agreements on Azerbaijani
and French entrepreneurs' joint projects, worth billions of dollars,
will be signed as part of this forum," said Mustafayev. According
to the reports, France is the fifth largest foreign investor in
Azerbaijan with the heavy investment close to $1 billion (TL 2.08
billion) in the energy sector.
Gas and oil groups such as TOTAL and GDF SUEZ are getting ready to
take part in the exploration and development of the Absheron gas
field. Apart from developing economic ties between two countries,
President Hollande underscored the importance of Azerbaijan's
territorial unity regarding the fruitless negotiations on resolving
the Nagorny-Karabakh conflict. "The situation remains tense, and there
have been tens of thousands of deaths, and recently there have been
some incidents as well. So, France will do everything it possibly can
in its capacity as co-chair of the Minsk Group to assist Azerbaijan and
Armenia to find a peaceful solution," the French president stressed.
Supporting Azerbaijan's national unity is believed to be of the
utmost importance for France and the European Union amid Ukraine
crisis. The French president's visit is seen as an important step for
the EU to boost the existing relations with the ex- Soviet countries
that have been in the sphere of Russian influence. President Hollande
continues his official trip with the next stop, Armenia where 500,000
French of Armenian origin form a political constituency. The talks
over the Nagorny-Karabakh conflict are expected to continue with
Armenian leaders.
http://www.dailysabah.com/asia/2014/05/13/france-ready-to-help-azerbaijanarmenia-reach-deal-says-hollande