French senator.
Natalie Gulley: “Armenia has the talent to show itself as a victim. But attempts to pretend to be a victim do not correspond to the real situation”. Source: trend.az
Natalie Gulley: “I am very pleased with the work carried out in Azerbaijan. Every time I arrive in Baku, I become a witness of new works. Azerbaijan successfully develops under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev. I know that the achievements of your country are also great for the first lady, Mehriban Aliyeva”. Source: azertag.az
Natalie Gulley: “Azerbaijan as a country has appeared recently. It is our ally in the South Caucasus, while Armenia is a puppet of Russia, and in Georgia Abkhazia and South Ossetia were subjected to occupation in an atmosphere of general indifference”. Source: 1news.az
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Natalie Gulley: Baku Games – a game of intolerance
The first European games will take place in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan from June 12th to June 28th. They became the reason for a whole heap of hypocritical articles, in which emphasis is placed on the violation of human rights and corruption in the country. And all with a condescending tone and a sense of satisfaction from the fulfilled duty: it is necessary to show how “in fact” things are in Azerbaijan. This was said in the article in the newspaper Le Huffington Post written by French senator Natalie Gulley, who heads the friendship group France-Caucasus in the French Senate
“This all tires and irritates me. But, about everything in order “, – the author writes. We bring to your attention the article by Natalie Gulley without changes. The Russian version of the text is prepared by the publication inosmi.ru:
Azerbaijan as a country has appeared recently. It is our ally in the South Caucasus, while Armenia is a puppet of Russia, and in Georgia Abkhazia and South Ossetia were subjected to occupation in an atmosphere of general indifference.
But Azerbaijan has long been our ally, even during the struggle against Nazism. In these days of celebrating the victory in the Second World War it is impossible not to remember about the Azerbaijani contingent, who fought hand in hand with the allies. In Averon, by the way, there is a monument to Azerbaijani Resistance fighters.
In addition, 20 years ago, Azerbaijan had to face the occupation of 20% of its territory: neighboring Armenia put hands on Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as Kelbajar, Lachin, Kubatly, Jabrayil, Zangelan, Agdam and Fizuli. Seven of these provinces are occupied in violation of international law, and France confirmed support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan last week .
Finally, Azerbaijan is a strategic ally in the fight against terrorism and for the security of the Caucasus. This small oil-bearing country is clamped between armed to the teeth and aggressive Russia from the north and spawned so many fears and hopes of Iran from the south.
Nevertheless, our ally is being treated poorly. No one pays attention to religious freedom and strict adherence to the principles of a secular state, which are signs of political maturity. It does not matter that it is a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, but at the same time maintains diplomatic and economic ties with Israel. It does not matter that in the context of an open armed conflict with Armenia, it follows the democratic criteria of the Council of Europe. No, nobody even mentions all this.
This small country does not have a foreign diaspora or a famous singer who could stand up for its protection. At the same time, the first lady is running the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which is engaged in the implementation of cultural and humanitarian projects: supporting museums around the world, opening schools and hospitals in Pakistan and poor countries. No, in all this they see only attempts to buy sources of support. How such a maniacal desire to pervert and devalue others’ actions irritates me…
Our envious and petty society is capable of perceive the actions of others only through the habitual prism. If something is done for free, which means you need to wait for something in response…
And if it is not so? This reminds me of the embarrassed silence of the American authorities, who received 100 million dollars in aid after Hurricane Katrina. Not a single word in the press, at least “thank you”. This does not cause anything except contempt…
Why do journalists consider themselves entitled to criticize without any explanation, analysis, assessment of circumstances, especially since the Caucasus is no less thin than the neighboring East? Why?
Of course, Azerbaijan still has a long way to go to democracy, but does this apply only to it in the region? And all over the world? Why so much hatred?
If Azerbaijan has friends, it must have bought them … But I consider myself a friend of this country. I know its people. I try to achieve the return of a million refugees who had to leave the provinces occupied by Armenia. Hundreds of thousands of simple and decent people who live far from the shine of Baku support the actions of the president to protect the territorial integrity of the country.
We have a long and strong friendship with this country and people. And I would like our biased journalists to understand what it really is: a developing ally state that only strives to live in peace. Because Azerbaijan really wants to contribute to the stability and development of the region within its restored borders.
Source: 1news.az
Eurasianet: Senator Natalie Gulley and former Minister of Justice Rachida Dati are big fans of Azerbaijan
Restoration of various monuments of architecture in France, according to popular belief, is an element of the propaganda offensive deployed in France by Azerbaijan, says the article on the website of the American organization Eurasianet.
It is noted that this campaign is designed, in fact, to deserve the symphathy of France and to repulse the negative reputation of Baku in the field of observance of human rights.
“France, being one of the biggest powers of the European Union, is a natural target for such a campaign, being also the fifth largest investor in Azerbaijan, investing mainly in the energy sector of the republic. And considering the representative Armenian Diaspora living in France, it also serves as an important channel for diplomatic influence for the old rival of Baku and Armenia,” it is said in the publication.
The author of the article recalls that Baku’s campaign in the cultural and artistic sphere dates back to 2007, when the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, led by the first lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, allocated an unnamed sum for the restoration of the “works of art” of the Palace of Versailles. Two years later, the Foundation donated 40 thousand euros for the restoration of three stained glass windows of one of the gems of Gothic architecture – the cathedral of Notre Dame in Strasbourg in the north-east of the country. “Then a million euros (over $ 1.34 million) was donated to the Louvre, and a rich mobile art exhibition was organized, replenishing a series of public initiatives. Expenses are aimed at strengthening the image of tolerance, in particular (in relation to church projects) tolerance,” is said in the article.
It is also noted that the government of Azerbaijan, which population is predominantly Shiite Muslims, allocated part of the money for the restoration of the Church of San Pattern of the 10th-11th centuries in Normandy in the west of France.
Eurasianet stresses that Azerbaijan has a number of prominent supporters in France, including Senator Natalie Gulley, who spoke in favor of Azerbaijan’s contradictory entry to the Council of Europe in 2001.
“A number of objects and organizations from the constituency of Gulley in France became the recipients of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation grants. In addition to the restoration of the Church of San Pattern, the foundation takes part in the restoration work in another church in the village of Reveillon with a population of 363 inhabitants. In addition, the foundation helps to organize dance and jazz festivals in the towns of Aigle and Argentan. According to the senator, the total amount of the fund’s donations was 150 thousand euros,” is said in the article.
Another big fan of Baku, as the site writes, is Rachida Dati, former Minister of Justice under President Nicolas Sarkozy, and now a member of the European Parliament and Mayor of the 7th district of Paris. Like Gulley, Dati calls Azerbaijan one of the models of tolerance. The author of the article reminds that Ilham Aliyev and his wife in the constituency of Dati in Paris opened Azerbaijani cultural center with an area of 3 thousand square meters with a view of the Eiffel Tower.
The publication notes that on the territory of Azerbaijan, the campaign launched in France in the field of culture and art, coupled with the promotion of the image of tolerance, has been criticized by many political observers. “This is a squandering of public funds, which go exclusively to create a positive image of the Aliev regime,” says Leyla Yunus, director of the Baku Institute for Peace and Democracy, speaking of the expenditures of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in France.
“Baku as a whole rejects criticism of its reputation in the field of human rights on the part of international organizations and outside observers as inappropriate and inadequate reality.
Yet the flow of criticism continues unabated, in particular, to the restrictions imposed by Baku and the persecution of conservative Muslims, free media and political critics of the authorities. But often no one hears these complaints abroad. It should be noted, that seven of the eleven delegates of France in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted on January 23 against a resolution calling on Azerbaijan to “promptly resolve” the issue with the cases of allegedly existing political prisoners in the country,” Eurasianet writes.
Source: panorama.am
First Lady of Azerbaijan meets with French Senate member Natalie Gulley
The first lady of Azerbaijan, the head of the Azerbaijani-French interparliamentary friendship group, Mehriban Aliyeva, on Monday met with French Senate member Natalie Gulley, who takes part in the III World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue in Baku.
First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva noted that she is glad to welcome Senator Natalie Gulley to Baku again. Mehriban Aliyeva reminded Natalie Gulley about her participation in joint events, stressed the importance of the III World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.
First lady Mehriban Aliyeva highly appreciated the special importance attached to Natalie Gulley as a member of the French parliament, cooperation with Azerbaijan.
Expressing satisfaction with the fact that she is visiting Azerbaijan again, the deputy of the French parliament noted that during each visit she admires the changes and innovations seen in the capital. Expressing her gratitude for the invitation to the event, Natalie Gulley stressed that the Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, which has already become traditional in Baku, makes an important contribution to the expansion of intercultural dialogue.
Source: trend.az