Baku, Azerbaijan, June 13
By Elmira Tariverdiyeva - Trend:
The opening ceremony of the first European Games in Baku made a great impression, French Senator Nathalie Goulet said June 13.
Goulet made this statement following a meeting with Aflatun Amashov, chairman of the Azerbaijani Press Council in Baku.
"I have always been involved in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and France," she said. "Here I see excellent intercultural, interreligious relations. The Azerbaijani-Israeli relations can be exemplary."
Goulet furthersaid that Azerbaijan must resist the international media's serious criticism, adding that Baku is an ally of Europe.
"We need Azerbaijan as a strategic partner in the region," she said.
Amashov in turn congratulated everyone on holding the European Games, and said that the opening of the Games was great.
"This is a historic event," he said. "Azerbaijan once again called all for peace and friendship and opposed the war and terrorism. We are confident that this call of Azerbaijan was heard worldwide."
Baku 2015 is the first-ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent. The games started on June 12 and will last till June 28, 2015.
There is a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports.
More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition. Baku was awarded the games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012.
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