France May Take a Crucial Step to Preserve Armenia's Territorial Integrity

France may take a crucial step to preserve Armenia's territorial integrity by opening a consular representation in Syunik, either in the regional capital of Kapan or in the city of Goris, as has already been done by other countries. This would be a significant move in favor of regional stability and would serve as a valuable outpost for the development of cooperation between France and Armenia.

This proposal was presented to French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna in an official letter by Anne-Laurence Petel, president of the France-Armenia friendship group in the National Assembly, and Gilbert-Luc Devinaz, president of the same group in the Senate.

According to French lawmakers, although Syunik province in southern Armenia is the least populated mountainous area, it occupies a central position in the geopolitical issues of the South Caucasus due to its rich mineral resources, which are a significant part of Armenia's economy.

“Although Syunik is connected to Yerevan by only one mountainous road, it is a significant corridor for establishing connections with the outside world through the border with Iran. The Armenia-Iran border is vital for Armenia. In the fall of 2020, it was also the only route that remained open during the forty-four-day war, protecting Armenia from complete asphyxiation,” the letter to the French Foreign Minister states.

“Ultimately, the Azerbaijani regime has ambitions towards Syunik, wanting to achieve a land connection between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan. This ambition is part of a larger Pan-Turkic agenda aimed at connecting the Turkish population of Bosphorus with the Caspian Sea region. In this context, with the increasing military imbalance favoring Azerbaijan every day, any potential new aggression from them could have devastating consequences. Armenia has few allies to confront this threat. Among them, France stands as one of the most devoted states guaranteeing the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia and the security of the Armenian population,” French lawmakers emphasized in their letter, reiterating the necessity of opening a consular representation in Syunik.