Paris-Baku: message to the world about possibility of peaceful coexistence of different religions and cultures

The beginning of autumn has become the next round of the Azerbaijani-French relations in the sphere of culture. On September 19, the official opening ceremony of the Azerbaijani Village, organized with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, was held in Paris. This project has been successfully implemented in the French capital for three years, strengthening the friendly ties between the two countries and a better acquaintance of peoples with each other.

In late September, a delegation led by the deputy of the French National Assembly, President of the Association of Friends of Azerbaijan in France, Jean-François Mancel, arrived in Baku. Jean-Francois Mansel stressed at the meeting with President Ilham Aliyev that in recent years the ties between France and Azerbaijan are at a very good level, and the opening ceremony of the Azerbaijani Village, organized in Paris with the participation of the First Lady of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, made a deep impression on all the participants.

Ilham Aliyev, in his turn, stressing the importance of opening and functioning of the Azerbaijani Village in the center of Paris, noted that such presentations were held several times and were embraced by French people. The President stressed that such activities, as well as visits of famous French figures to Azerbaijan will make an important contribution to the broader popularization of our country in France and the expansion of bilateral ties.

The French delegation of 25 members of the Association not only visited Azerbaijan's Ganja and Sheki, but also took part in two important events of the socio-political life of Azerbaijan, which were held in recent days - the 5th Baku International Humanitarian Forum and activities related to the visit of Pope Francis to the country.

At a meeting with the French guests the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, stated a gradual increase in the number of members of the Association, noting that it contributes to a further strengthening of the Azerbaijani-French relations. The President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation also noted that contacts between the cities and regions of Azerbaijan and France, saying that the signed twinning agreements between the cities are opening up new opportunities for further expansion of cooperation.

Mehriban Aliyeva said that a monument to an outstanding Azerbaijani poet Mahsati Ganjavi will be erected in the French city of Cognac in October with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. She was born at the end of the 11th century in the city of Ganja, received an excellent education, she was good at the eastern literature and music, and reflected dreams about freedom and happy life of her people in her poems, and especially of women of the East.

The opening of the Mahsati Ganjavi Center in Ganja, which was built with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation

Noting that the main objective of the Association is bringing Azerbaijan's realities to the French public, Mehriban Aliyeva said that in this sense, the organization of such visits is of great importance. Jean-François Mancel noted that the deputies of the French National Assembly, who spent a week in the capital of Azerbaijan, had an opportunity to get acquainted with Baku. Stressing the importance of the activities carried out in the capital, the guest said that such contacts are a kind of a message to the world about the possibility of peaceful coexistence of different religions and cultures.