Updates
Domestic visits
26
10, 2011
Serzh Sargsyan participated at the Annual General Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Mayors
President Serzh Sargsyan participated today at the Annual General Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Mayors and welcomed over 350 of its attendees who have arrived to Yerevan from fifty countries of the world. The President of Armenia wished the Assembly efficient works.
In his welcoming remarks, Serzh Sargsyan first thanked the Mayor of Paris, President of the International Association of Francophone Mayors Bertrand Delanoe for affectionate remarks about Armenia and Armenians, noting that it was a great pleasure to see so many delegates gathered in Yerevan.
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Welcoming Remarks of Serzh Sargsyan at the Annual General Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Mayors
Distinguished President of the International Association of Francophone Mayors,
Esteemed Mayors,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Recent weeks have become a true “French month” in Armenia. Exactly one month ago, I was in Paris at the invitation of my friend and colleague, President of France Nicolas Sarkozy.
After that, an exceptional state visit of the President of France to Armenia took place which was signified by transcending to a new, supreme phase of our relations. The essence of the visit, and what’s very important, its content has become a very important pillar which further reinforced friendship of our two peoples and two states.
And today, the Annual General Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Mayors has convened in Yerevan.
Distinguished Mr. Delanoe,
During my visit to France, when I was a guest at the great reception invited by the Paris City Hall, I said that we were looking forward to your and francophone mayors’ visit to Yerevan.
We are very pleased with the fact that Armenia is attached to the family of the francophones with strong threads of friendship. We entirely share values declared by your organization such as cultural diversity, right of the individual and people to live free, peacefully and independent. Vision of the future of our nation, which has millennia long history and vast experience, is based on that very values. We are striving to build our statehood, which has only a twenty-year history even though our nation is coming from the depth of times, on these values. We are consistent in our resolve to become part of the francophone family. As it has already been mentioned, three years ago we became an associated member of the Organization, while at the next Assembly we anticipate to become a full member. It will only officially secure progress which has been registered in Armenia in that area. Proofs of our determination to become a member of the francophone family and success recently achieved are plenty, and I am proud of it.
The French language and francophony are present in our country at all levels – from a French kindergarten to the French University, from scientific and cultural areas to journalism and business circles.
It is no accident, that Armenia is among the leaders when it comes to the organization of francophone events, which are conducted not only in Yerevan but also on the entire territory of the country.
The National Assembly of Armenia has become a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of Francophony, while three largest educational establishments of Armenia are members of the Agency of Francophone Universities.
In the framework of decentralized cooperation, at the moment almost thirty direct links have been established with France alone, other countries excluded. These contacts and ties are essentially a unique assembly of the local governance bodies.
I believe that your decision to convene the General Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Mayors in Yerevan is a result and evaluation of our active work. I would like to repeat that it is a great honor for us. I am confident that the Yerevan session of the General Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Mayors has had its contribution to the broadcasting of the ideas of the Organization and has further strengthened cooperation.
I again cordially welcome you all. I once again thank you for choosing Yerevan as the venue of the session of the General Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Mayors, and wish you every success. You are doing a very important job and when doing an important job success is essential.
In his welcoming remarks, Serzh Sargsyan first thanked the Mayor of Paris, President of the International Association of Francophone Mayors Bertrand Delanoe for affectionate remarks about Armenia and Armenians, noting that it was a great pleasure to see so many delegates gathered in Yerevan.
***
Welcoming Remarks of Serzh Sargsyan at the Annual General Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Mayors
Distinguished President of the International Association of Francophone Mayors,
Esteemed Mayors,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Recent weeks have become a true “French month” in Armenia. Exactly one month ago, I was in Paris at the invitation of my friend and colleague, President of France Nicolas Sarkozy.
After that, an exceptional state visit of the President of France to Armenia took place which was signified by transcending to a new, supreme phase of our relations. The essence of the visit, and what’s very important, its content has become a very important pillar which further reinforced friendship of our two peoples and two states.
And today, the Annual General Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Mayors has convened in Yerevan.
Distinguished Mr. Delanoe,
During my visit to France, when I was a guest at the great reception invited by the Paris City Hall, I said that we were looking forward to your and francophone mayors’ visit to Yerevan.
We are very pleased with the fact that Armenia is attached to the family of the francophones with strong threads of friendship. We entirely share values declared by your organization such as cultural diversity, right of the individual and people to live free, peacefully and independent. Vision of the future of our nation, which has millennia long history and vast experience, is based on that very values. We are striving to build our statehood, which has only a twenty-year history even though our nation is coming from the depth of times, on these values. We are consistent in our resolve to become part of the francophone family. As it has already been mentioned, three years ago we became an associated member of the Organization, while at the next Assembly we anticipate to become a full member. It will only officially secure progress which has been registered in Armenia in that area. Proofs of our determination to become a member of the francophone family and success recently achieved are plenty, and I am proud of it.
The French language and francophony are present in our country at all levels – from a French kindergarten to the French University, from scientific and cultural areas to journalism and business circles.
It is no accident, that Armenia is among the leaders when it comes to the organization of francophone events, which are conducted not only in Yerevan but also on the entire territory of the country.
The National Assembly of Armenia has become a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of Francophony, while three largest educational establishments of Armenia are members of the Agency of Francophone Universities.
In the framework of decentralized cooperation, at the moment almost thirty direct links have been established with France alone, other countries excluded. These contacts and ties are essentially a unique assembly of the local governance bodies.
I believe that your decision to convene the General Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Mayors in Yerevan is a result and evaluation of our active work. I would like to repeat that it is a great honor for us. I am confident that the Yerevan session of the General Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Mayors has had its contribution to the broadcasting of the ideas of the Organization and has further strengthened cooperation.
I again cordially welcome you all. I once again thank you for choosing Yerevan as the venue of the session of the General Assembly of the International Association of Francophone Mayors, and wish you every success. You are doing a very important job and when doing an important job success is essential.