BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 14. I highly commend
President Ilham Aliyev’s determination and leadership in advancing
and implementing the peace agenda with Armenia, the French
Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Sophie Lagoutte, said at an event
organized by the French Embassy in Baku to mark the national
holiday of the French Republic, Trend's correspondent reports from the event.
“First and foremost, Azerbaijan has impressively managed to put
Baku on the world map. The country has clearly established itself
as one of the leading organizers of major international events,
whether it be the Grand Prix, the World Cities Forum, the World
Telecommunication Development Conference, Baku Energy Week, or the
Baku Security Forum, to name just a few. For each of these events,
I was pleased to welcome high-level French delegations here, eager
to contribute to multilateral discussions on solving global
challenges through cooperation and dialogue. I thank the
Azerbaijani authorities for creating the right conditions for
hosting such important diplomatic forums,” she said.
Lagoutte noted that she is impressed by the speed at which the
regional reality is changing.
"I highly commend the determination and leadership demonstrated
by President Ilham Aliyev and all Azerbaijani officials in
advancing and implementing the peace agenda with Armenia. Very
significant concrete steps have been taken to make the benefits of
peace tangible and visible. I have also personally witnessed the
large-scale efforts and investments that Azerbaijan is directing
toward the liberated territories. Karabakh is developing — I even
know that the dairy cooperative in Lachin received training from
French cheesemakers to create delicious local products! This newly
restored neighborly relationship with Armenia, after three decades
of suffering and grief, opens up new opportunities in both the
interpersonal and economic spheres. France stands ready to support
you in ensuring a lasting and irreversible peace and to help the
people of Azerbaijan fully reap the benefits of a fully open South
Caucasus,” she added.
