The French-Azerbaijan cooperation grew sufficiently regular and at a high level during the presidency of Jacques Chirac, since 1995. There is a considerable economic and political cooperation between the two countries. France is the second main trade partner of Azerbaijan in Europe, folloüing Italy. (http://www.ambafrance.az/)

Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev visited France and met with Jacques Chirac several times (May 8, December 3-6, 1995; January 10-11, 1996; January 13-15, 1997; March 4-6, 2001). (http://www.mfa.gov.az/)

In his speech, Heydar Aliyev said he was satisfied with the level of relations between France and Azerbaijan, during his next visit to France on January 13-15, 1997. Azerbaijan president declared that the mutual cooperation was founded during his visit by the invitation of the head of the French state Francois Mitterrand in December of 1993 and agreements to be signed at the present would serve for enlargement of it.

In the same speech Heydar Alyev said he was pleased with the French support of Azerbaijani proposals at the OSCE Lisbon summit of 1996.

Jacques Chirac insured an active French mediation activity for the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno (Upper) Karabakh conflict by means of negotiations, as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk group. On Chirac's initiative, a next vis-à-vis meeting was held between presidents Heydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Robert Kocharian of Armenia in March 2001, in Paris. In his interview, commenting the meeting, Jacques Chirac declared importance of acceptableness of any agreement for both sides. (http://www.news.bbc.co.uk/)

In his conversation with Heydar Aliyev, he said Paris talks could create a good basis for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Later, with Jacques Chirac`s mediation, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian conducted next series of negotiations, in the early 2006.

Jacques Chirac is expected to visit Azerbajan, in the early 2007. (http://www.azerbaijan.news.az/)

Historical background was compiled on November, 2006.

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On January 13-15, 1997, Heydar Aliyev paid his second official visit to France.

In his meeting with the French President Jacques Chirac at the Elysian Palace on January 13, 1997, Heydar Aliyev recalled the support of France to the proposals of Azerbaijan at the Lisbon Summit of OSCE and expressed his satisfaction with it. During the visit a contract on joint developments in the Lankaran-deniz and Talysh-deniz deposits of Azerbaijan was signed between the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan and Total and Elf-Aquitaine of France at the Elysian Palace. In addition, agreements were signed on air transport, free movement and culture.

“90 Instants of the Great leader”, Heydar Aliyev Heritage research center, “Sharq-Qarb”, Baku-2013, p.91