AZERBAIJAN TO OPEN CULTURAL CENTERS IN FRANCE
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Jan 26 2015
26 January 2015, 15:35 (GMT+04:00)
By Amina Nazarli
France has ratified an intergovernmental agreement with Azerbaijan
on the establishment of cultural centers between the two countries.
The speakers of the parliamentary session were Thierry Mariani,
MP from the 11th Congressional District of French citizens abroad,
Jean Francois Mansell, Deputy Chairman of the Friends Association
of Azerbaijan in France and Michel Voisin, Chairman of the
France-Azerbaijan Friendship Group in the National Assembly.
They spoke about the culture and history of Azerbaijan and the
activities of Baku directed to preserve and strengthen the country’s
independence.
The speakers also spoke of the tolerance tradition in Azerbaijan as
well as the secular nature and multiculturalism in the Azerbaijani
society.
During the meeting, speakers also touched upon the role of France in
the settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The MPs noted the importance of this agreement in expanding bilateral
and cultural relations between the two sides.
The agreement was reached during the visit of President Ilham Aliyev
to France in 2009. Based on the agreement, the cultural centers of
both countries will work under embassies and will have a legal status.
Annually, several events, exhibitions and concerts, including Days
of Azerbaijani Culture in 2013 and French Siam Festival, devoted
to Azerbaijani national music organized by Heydar Aliyev Foundation
in France.
In June, 2014 a conference devoted to the 900th jubilee of Azerbaijan’s
first poetess Mahsati Ganjavi was held at the Upper Alsace University
in the city of Mulhouse, France.
In January 2015, a grandiose opening of an event titled “Cultural
Values of Azerbaijan – the pearl of the Caucasus” co-organized by
Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijani Embassy in France was held
in Megeve.
This event is being held annually in France, where numerous other
events including exhibitions, concert programs are held as part of
the Days of Azerbaijan in several French cities.