Azerbaijan's Ismayilli cancels charter of friendship with France's Evian city UPDATED

The Permanent Council, which is an advisory body to the Head of the Executive Authority of Azerbaijan’s Ismayilli District, has distributed a statement on the termination of the Charter of Friendship and Co-operation signed between the city of Ismayilli and the French city of Evian-les-Bains.

Azertag quotes the statement as saying: "In May 2015, the Charter of Friendship and Cooperation was signed between the city of Ismayilli of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the city of Evian-les-Bains of the French Republic.

The purpose of signing the agreement at that time was to develop friendly relations between the two cities, to contribute to the establishment of bilateral ties in the cultural, tourist and economic spheres. Practical steps were even taken in this direction, mutual visits between the parties were organised.

In continuation of cooperation, the opening ceremony of the "Azerbaijan Park" and the Friendship Spring in the park, as well as the monument to prominent Azerbaijani poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan was held in Evian in 2017.

At the same time, a commemorative plaque "Azerbaijan-France Friendship Park" was installed in the central park of the city of Ismayilli.

The fact that Ismayilli is one of the ancient settlements and attracts the attention of numerous foreign tourists, as well as the Lagic copper fishery in the area, which is included in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, created an additional incentive for cooperation between the cities.

Even though the idea of "twin cities" serves the culture of different peoples and creates bridges between people of different nationalities, and this concept itself is outside politics, the French side, unfortunately, politicized this issue and suspended contacts between cities after the Patriotic War as a sign of support for Armenia.

On December 18, 2023, at a meeting of the Municipal Council of Evian, unfounded accusations against our country were voiced and support for Armenia was expressed. The mayor of the city also announced that all posts mentioning "Azerbaijan Park" have been deleted.

As a sign of protest against the anti-Azerbaijani policy pursued by France towards our country on all platforms and the decision of the Municipal Council of Evian to erase the inscriptions labelled "Azerbaijani Park", the Charter of Friendship and Cooperation signed between Ismayilli town and Evian-les-Bains town from 26.12.2023 is considered null and void.

In addition, the park in the centre of Ismayilli should be named after the famous Azerbaijani poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan".

December 28 - 13:10 

The Permanent Council of Mayor's Office of Azerbaijan’s Ismayilli district has cancelled the Charter of Friendship and Cooperation between Ismayilli City and the French city of Evian-les-Bains.

The council made the statement, recalling that the document was signed by representatives of local authorities of both cities in 2015 in Ismailli to develop friendly relations and bilateral ties in several fields, according to Report.

As part of these efforts, an "Azerbaijan Garden" was opened in Evian-les-Bains in 2017, and a monument to famous Azerbaijani poetess Khurshudbanu Natavan was erected. At the same time, a sign "Azerbaijan-France Friendship Park" was installed in the central park of Ismayilli.

"However, on December 18, 2023, the Evian-les-Bains City Council meeting voiced unfounded accusations against Azerbaijan and expressed support for Armenia. Also, the mayor of the city stated that the signs labelled 'Azerbaijan Garden' were dismantled," the statement reads.

The Council strongly condemned the prejudiced and biased statements against Azerbaijan voiced at the event, as well as the decision of the city authorities regarding the "Azerbaijan Garden".

"In protest against France's anti-Azerbaijani policy and the decision of the Evian-les-Bains City Council on the 'Azerbaijani Garden', the council decided to cancel the Charter of Friendship and Cooperation from 26 December 2023," the statement reads.

The council also stressed that from now on the park in the centre of Ismayilli will be named after famous Azerbaijani poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan.