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WORKS / DIASPORA

Heydar Aliyev: Thank you very much. You are doing well. I could not see such things a few years ago.

- Mr. President, last year for the first time we established the Association of the Azerbaijani students in Europe. This association started its activities last year in Strasbourg. This year in Paris, we opened a branch of the association. Last month, on behalf of the students we held the Days of the Azerbaijani culture in Strasbourg. We want to publish a journal about Azerbaijan in the nearest future in France. At the same time we intend to create a website for two months. This will be the first site about Azerbaijan in French.

Heydar Aliyev: Do you know French perfectly?

Eleanora Huseynova (ambassador of Azerbaijan in France): Mr. President, they do know it perfectly.

- Mr. President, your words spoken in meeting with the youth on February 2 in Baku are an example for us. That is, the youth of Azerbaijan is ready to do and will do everything possible for the future of our country. We promise to fulfill with honor our tasks and realize your expectations. We always regard you as an example for ourselves.

Heydar Aliyev: Thank you very much. At a press conference in Strasbourg, a young man asked a question in French. I spoke about this in Azerbaijan, Baku. It gave me a pleasure that he had asked such a great question. He asked the President of Armenia a very meaningful question and in French. I am proud of it.

- Mr. President, we have different areas of education. Basic field of education is law and international relations. Thus, we hope that the knowledge obtained in France will be applied in Azerbaijan.

Heydar Aliyev: Study well. We have a need for young people and young staff. I always say and I repeated it at the forum of youth that young people now have to go forward. Because we build a new country, a new system and create a new economy. People who have done much and have merits, of course, are very important for us today. But there must be a change of generations. It is necessary that the youth should intensively develop and take a worthy place in Azerbaijan, and no matter what country it is, they should represent Azerbaijan well. This should be done not only to work at the embassy.

Now we are an independent state. We have to send delegations to different countries. For example, we often have difficulties when the members of our delegation who do not speak foreign languages. We have to send tens of translators. However, the issue does not only depend on knowledge of language. For example, in France, you learn not only the language, you study France, Europe and the existing system of education here. All that is necessary for us. I am very pleased with it. 

- Mr. President, I am the fifth-year student of department of diplomacy and politics of the International Relations Faculty in Sorbonne University. As a student and as a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I promise to do my best for Azerbaijan in the field of diplomacy in future.

Heydar Aliyev: Study well and finish your education quickly.

- Mr. President, the Azerbaijani language is taught at the Institute of Oriental languages and Regional Ethnography in Paris for two years. I teach the Azerbaijani language there. There is a great interest not only in studying the Azerbaijani language but also in our culture.

Eleanora Huseynova: Mr. President, our young people studying here are active, literate and patriots. The main thing is that they love Azerbaijan. Every time I meet them, I feel it.

- Mr. President, our distinguished Ambassador knows it. Our main aim is to bring together our students in France that we have already been partially solved. We are grateful to our ambassador and told her that we want to make our union to be under the direct patronage of the Azerbaijani Republic. On the other hand, we want to grow the number of our students in France. Thus, we are the ambassadors and the diplomats of our country of the second degree and therefore, we hope and believe that Azerbaijan, due to your personal care and attention improving the situation of students and increasing their numbers.

Heydar Aliyev: Well, it is gladdening.

- Mr. President, despite the fact that we are far from Azerbaijan, we promise that we shall do everything possible for our country. We promise it in the presence of the person, in whom the people of Azerbaijan have great confidence.

Heydar Aliyev: I am very pleased. You know the main problem of our people. This is the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. You see that in less than a month I came back here to negotiate. You may have heard that after the talks we held here, we discussed this issue in the parliament. Unfortunately, many people still do not realize how this issue is complicated and difficult, they speak with emotions and make a fuss.

But this is a difficult and hard work. After all, if one country has occupied 20 percent of the land of another country there is a need to drive them out peacefully or by war - although the military option is now less acceptable. Of course, to achieve this by peace is very difficult, as we carry out negotiations. Not just here, but everywhere. Within one month, it is the second time I come here. I shall hold talks for you, the young people to continue to live safely in independent Azerbaijan.

- Mr. President, in support of your words I shall say that it was very difficult to defense the scholarly work that I presented to you. As it was difficult to prove the French professors that Azerbaijan is the right side in the conflict.

Despite the difficulties, I defended it at the highest level and two copies of my research work were sent for storage in the Central Library of France. Currently I am studying at the doctoral of the Department of Political Science of Sorbonne University. I am the first Azerbaijani student who entered the doctoral.

Heydar Aliyev: Thank you.

You know, there is injustice against us, our country and our people. However, unfortunately, in the world community, in many countries, including France, people do not want to know about this injustice. Why? Because the Armenian side has a large diaspora throughout the world. They have a good propaganda. Azerbaijan did not have such opportunities in the past. It is good that you are gradually emerging. It is very necessary for us, as we have to prove the injustice and aggression committed against Azerbaijan. Without proving it, we shall not be able to resolve the issue. Here, everyone has to make an effort.

- Mr. President, we came from Grenoble. I am writing a doctoral thesis at the Department of International Security and Defence of the European Institute in Grenoble. I hope that, soon in our institute for the first time there will be issued a scholarly journal about Azerbaijan. We had negotiations with the administration of the institute on this journal and they have given their final approval. This journal will be published under the name of «Azerbaijan and international security.» In this regard, we shall provide assistance as it is possible. This journal will be published in French and English. In this case, it will give an important contribution to the formation of the world public opinion in favor of Azerbaijan. I hope that in the coming days, this journal will be released.

Heydar Aliyev: It is very necessary.

- Mr. President, in conclusion, I recall the words of the former French President Charles de Gaulle uttered in October 1958 in Paris. He said that France is a great country and the people of France are a great nation and all the people in future will do their best for France taking it to a decent position. We also believe and the present youth of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani people can say that Azerbaijan is a great country and the people of Azerbaijan are a great nation and in future Azerbaijan will occupy a high position. We shall make it possible.

Heydar Aliyev: Yes, we shall do it with your efforts. 

- Mr. President, we wish you great success in all your endeavors.

Heydar Aliyev: Thank you very much.

Translated from newspaper «Azerbaijan», March 4, 2001 

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