Minister of Foreign Affairs and France's Secretary of State Discuss Armenian-French Bilateral Agenda

On January 28, Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian met with Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, France's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who was visiting Armenia with a delegation.

The Foreign Minister of Armenia and the French Secretary of State engaged in a detailed discussion regarding the Armenian-French bilateral agenda, reaffirming their mutual readiness to take practical steps towards strengthening and expanding multifaceted cooperation.

Priorities highlighted included the effective utilization of trade and economic collaboration potentials, including the implementation of targeted new projects by the French Development Agency in Armenia and exploring new investment opportunities.

Minister Aivazian and Secretary Lemoyne also addressed issues of regional security and stability. Aivazian expressed gratitude to France for its impartial stance and assessment regarding the large-scale aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh and the Armenian people.

Both sides emphasized the imperative of a political settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group peace process.

Minister Aivazian noted that the determination of the legal status of Artsakh, based on the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh, is central to establishing lasting peace, security, and stability in the region.

The Armenian Foreign Minister drew the Secretary of State's attention to the urgent need for the repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in Azerbaijan and the artificial obstacles raised by Azerbaijan in this regard.

Discussions also focused on the preservation of Armenian historical and cultural monuments. In this context, the interlocutors underscored the importance of both the uninterrupted involvement of international specialized organizations, particularly UNESCO, and the utilization of bilateral cooperation opportunities.