A ceremony to award Mehriban Aliyeva with the Order of the French Legion of Honor Officer was held.

A ceremony to award Azerbaijan’s First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva with the Order of the French Legion of Honor Officer has been held as part of an official visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Azerbaijan.

Addressing the ceremony, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said:

- Mr. President,

Mrs. Aliyeva, you were born in Baku. You are Azerbaijan’s best ambassador and at the same time a fine example for all women around the world. We know that you have received higher education in Moscow and are an expert in ophthalmology. You work hard for the benefit of your country and are also an active Member of Parliament. Your decision to move from the post of chairperson of the parliament’s US-Azerbaijani friendship group to chairpersonship of the French-Azerbaijani group is a great honor for us. It was a strategic and excellent choice. At the same time, you are personally involved in promoting cultural diversity. You are a great friend of France. You do an extremely important job.

The Foundation you are leading has done a lot in the area of child care. The Foundation also contributes to the preservation of the world’s cultural heritage. So I would like to present the First Lady of Azerbaijan with the highest order of our country – the French Republic.

Dear Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, on behalf of the French Republic I am presenting you the Order of the French Legion of Honor Officer.

Х Х Х

The French President presented Azerbaijan’s First Lady with the Order of the French Legion of Honor Officer.

Х Х Х

Expressing her gratitude to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva said:

Dear Mr. President, I am very grateful to you for decorating me with the highest award of the French Republic, the Order of the French Legion of Honor Officer.

It is a great honor for me and a high assessment of my activity. Thank you for the kind words you have said about me.
I would like to reassure you that I will do everything in my power for a further expansion and strengthening of relations between Azerbaijan and France.

I am very pleased that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation I am leading has also contributed to the establishment of the French Lyceum in Baku the foundation of which will be laid today. I am sure that this school will contribute to the development of education in our country and also promote French language, history and culture in Azerbaijan.

In order to promote Azerbaijani culture in France, we have held various activities, concerts and festivals this year. Next year, Baku will host the Plaisirs de France exhibition, reflecting France’s rich arts.

The Center of Azerbaijan will start operating in Paris in the near future, thus further deepening the humanitarian cooperation between our countries. I am very happy to have contributed to that.

Mr. President, expressing my great respect for and love of your country, I would like to thank you and the French government for this high award again. I would like to convey my best wishes to your country, your people, you and your family. Thank you very much again.

Х Х Х

A picture was taken in conclusion.