President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva were on a visit to France, January 22-24, 2004.
On January 22, the Head of State and his spouse were greeted, at the International Orly Airport of Paris, by high-ranking officials of the French Government, Ambassador of France to Baku Chantal Poirier, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Paris Eleanora Huseynova, and other officials.
Official reception on behalf of the French Defence Minister in honour of President Ilham Aliyev and Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva
On January 22, French Defence Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie organized an official reception, at her residence, in honour of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva.
French Defence Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev delivered a speech at the reception.
Official welcoming ceremony
On January 23, an official welcoming ceremony of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev took place at the Elyse Palace.
A ceremony of presenting of the “National Order of the Legion of Honour, Grand Officer”
On January 23, a ceremony of presenting of the “National Order of the Legion of Honour, Grand Officer”, which French President Jacques Chirac had once rewarded Azerbaijan’s national leader Heydar Aliyev, to President Ilham Aliyev took place at the Elyse Palace.
President Ilham Aliyev and Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva were present at the ceremony.
Official reception
On January 23, an official reception was organized by French President Jacques Chirac in honour of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, at the Elyse Palace.
The French and Azerbaijani Presidents delivered a speech at the reception.
Official dinner on behalf of President of the French Senate Christian Poncelet in honour of President Ilham Aliyev and Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva
On January 23, President Ilham Aliyev and Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva visited the French Senate.
After the meeting with the Senate leadership, the Head of State and his spouse were presented souvenirs.
Then a dinner was given on behalf of President of the French Senate Christian Poncelet in honour of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
The Head of State delivered a speech at the official dinner.
Meeting with UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsuura
On January 23, Mehriban Aliyeva met, at UNESCO headquarters, with the organization’s Director General Koichiro Matsuura.
At the meeting was emphasized that recently relations between UNESCO and Azerbaijan strengthened further.
Mehriban Aliyeva presented a work by an Azerbaijani artist to UNESCO.
Familiarisation with “Nekyap” children’s hospital in Paris
On January 23, Mehriban Aliyeva visited “Nekyap” children’s hospital in Paris.
Mehriban Aliyeva emphasized the necessity of building relations with this clinic, as well as considering the possibility of treatment and rehabilitation of Azerbaijani children suffering from thalassemia and other diseases at this hospital. She said she would investigate into possibility of Azerbaijan’s benefiting from this clinic’s long-year experience.
Then children being treated at the clinic were presented souvenirs.
January 22-24, 2004
