Historical background to the document "President of the Azerbaijan Republic Heydar Aliyev met President of France Fransua Mitterrand (20 December, 1993)"

Heydar Aliyev and French President Francois Mitterrand got acquainted when Heydar Aliyev was one of the leaders of the Soviet Union. After being elected President of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev paid his first official visit to France on 19-22 December 1993.

During his visit Heydar Aliyev met the French President Francois Mitterrand, minister of Foreign Affairs Alain Juppe, parliamentary leadership, representatives of industrial and business circles. Francois Mitterrand and Heydar Aliyev signed an agreement on friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation between France and Azerbaijan.

While being in Paris, Heydar Aliyev also signed one of the main documents of the CSCE , the Paris Charter that implies transition of the Eastern European and former Soviet republics to democracy and market economy.