Samad Seyidov, head of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE stated. The issue related to the presidential elections in Azerbaijan will not be discussed at the January session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Samad Seyidov, head of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE. He attended the PACE Permanent Committee meeting in Madrid, told APA. Seyidov said on Friday the Permanent Committee discussed the October 15 presidential elections in Azerbaijan in details. PACE Monitoring Committee’s co-rapporteur for Azerbaijan Andres Herkel submitted his report, which was widely discussed at the Committee. PACE President Luis Maria de Puig and 13 others delivered speeches on this issue. The PACE president said Azerbaijani people elected its president and freely expressed its will. “The PACE president said that the elections were realized and principles of the Council of Europe were observed during the voting. If the people freely elected its president, it means the elections were held in accordance with the values of the Council of Europe”. Seyidov said it was reported at the meeting that the presidential elections in Azerbaijan were organized on the basis of democratic principles and the Committee decided not to include the issue in the January session agenda. Seyidov said Azerbaijan-CE relations would be developed further and the organization expressed its readiness to assist our country in the next elections too.

Nicola Sarkozi stated that he was very happy because of the development of cooperation between two countries, President Press service informed Lent.az: “Baku conference of France-Azerbaijan Joint Economic Commission will give a chance to work out broad and rich prospects of international activity and cooperation on economy and trade. I was satisfied with discussions during your visit in November, 2007 and I will happy to receive you in France in 2009. The visit will give opportunity to us to learn all aspects of relations tied the two countries and work for deepening them”.
As a co-chair of Minsk group Sarkozy assured to support Azerbaijan to achieve just and peaceful solution to Daqliq Qarabaq. “You know that I have a personal interest in this issue and considered hopeful results of Moscow meeting with Armenian President Sarkisyan on the initiative of Russian President Medvedev on November 2, 2008. I feel that 2009 is an exceptional and expedient year for solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict. France is ready to contribute to positive process and will assist Caucasus to become peaceful and progressive zone,” he said.
In the letter French President stressed that reforms taken under EU for determination of Eastern Partnership within the framework of European Neighborhood Policy are chance for Azerbaijan’s integration into Europe. “I assure you that France will try to work out a document for favor of Azerbaijan,” he said.