Foreign visits
Official visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to the French Republic
On 11 November, President Serzh Sargsyan arrived to the French Republic of an official visit.
The official ceremony of welcoming the President of Armenia took place at the Orly International Airport in Paris.
President Serzh Sargsyan on 12 November met with the President of France Francois Hollande.
The two Presidents noted with satisfaction the high level of the Armenian-French relations and underscored that historically formed cordial relations between the two peoples serve as a solid base for the development and further strengthening of the special interstate relations.
The parties concurred that it is important to maintain the high level of the political dialogue, work towards the expansion of the French presence in Armenia and increase the turnover between the two countries.
Taking into consideration Armenia’s membership to the International Organization of Francophony, the Presidents of Armenia and France reiterated their commitment to incessantly ensure broad state and public support for furthering cultural and scientific relations.
Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Francois Hollande exchanged ideas on the regional issues and the NK peace process. Serzh Sargsyan expressed gratitude for the constant assistance provided by France to Armenia’s Eurointegration process.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the President of France Francois Hollande gave a dinner in honor of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan which was attended by the prominent members of the Armenian-French community.
The Presidents of Armenia and France made statements for the representatives of the mass media on the results of the meeting.
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President Serzh Sargsyan met also with the Prime Minister of France Jean-Marc Ayrault.
The President of Armenia and Prime Minister of France exchanged views and agreed that the twenty-year old Armenian-French excellent political cooperation should become a standard for the economic relations as well. Noting with satisfaction that France is the second largest investment in the Armenian economy, the President of Armenia among the priority issues stressed the importance of the further deepening of trade and economic relations and the increase of the turnover. In this context, the sides discussed a broad range of issues of mutual interest.
The President of Armenia and Prime Minister of France spoke about the importance of the Armenian-French Business Club functioning in Armenia since last year and expansion of its activities, at the same time hailing works of the French Development Agency aimed at the support of Armenia’s advancement through the forthcoming programs in the areas of agriculture, development of private sector and management of water resources.
The parties discussed in detail subsequent involvement of the French companies in the current programs in the energy area and their participation in the construction of a new unit of the Armenian nuclear power station.
The Prime Minister of France expressed readiness to foster the entry of the French companies in the free trade zones being established in Armenia. The parties discussed also other issues of mutual interest such as participation of the French companies in the area of telecommunications, construction of infrastructure connecting the northern parts of our country with the south, and in the further development of the pension system in Armenia.
Serzh Sargsyan and Prime Minister of France Jean-Marc Ayrault spoke also about deepening of the Armenian-French cultural and educational relations, as well as possible assistance of France in the development of Armenia-EU relations.
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After the meeting with the Prime Minister of France Jean-Marc Ayrault, President Serzh Sargsyan met with the President of the National Assembly of France Claude Bartolone.
The interlocutors stressed the importance of interparliamentary diplomacy in the high-level interstate relations. President Serzh Sargsyan welcomed active contacts and efficient activities of the France-Armenia interparliamentary friendship groups and stressed the importance of our two countries’ cooperation in the framework of international organizations.
On behalf of his country’s parliament, the President of the National Assembly of France Claude Bartolone expressed readiness to continue in the same spirit and to do his best to strengthen bilateral relations based on the common values. He underlined that France highly values active work carried out by Armenia during the tenure of President Serzh Sargsyan aimed at the greater rapprochement with Europe.
President Serzh Sargsyan and the President of the National Assembly of France Claude Bartolone stressed the importance of the Armenian-French community in the strengthening of the Armenian-French friendship which serves as a unique bridge between Armenia and France.
Serzh Sargsyan expressed gratitude to France and its friendly people for warm attitude and consideration towards our compatriots, and to the French parliament - for the constant support on the issues which are vital for the Armenian nation.
At the meeting, the parties discussed also regional issues and challenges, as well as the NK peace process.
Tonight, President Serzh Sargsyan met with the members of the France-Armenia interparliamentary friendship group of the National Assembly of France and Senate.
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On 13 November, President Serzh Sargsyan met with the President of the French Senate Jean-Pierre Bel.
At the meeting, the parties underscored that friendship of the Armenian and French peoples, which goes back centuries, since Armenia’s independence has translated into a mutually beneficial close cooperation of the two states and high-level relations, notable for their dynamic dialogue. According to President Serzh Sargsyan and President of the French Senate Jean-Pierre Bel, exceptionally warm interparliamentary relations and efficient cooperation play an important and great role. Particularly stressed were the activities of the France-Armenia interparliamentary friendship group.
The interlocutors highlighted the importance of the decentralized cooperation in the interaction of the two countries and noted with satisfaction progress registered in that area. They also said that over 60 sister towns and regions of Armenia and France have established friendly ties and in the framework of these relations each year they realize numerous programs in the areas of culture, education, health care, tourism, etc.
The President of Armenia and President of the French Senate highlighted also the importance of the mutually beneficial cooperation on the international arena.
At the meeting, President Serzh Sargsyan on behalf of the Armenian people and his own behalf expressed gratitude to the friendly people of France and its authorities, including Senate, for the adoption of the law on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Concluding his official meetings in Paris, President Serzh Sargsyan today left for Lyon, where he met with the Mayor of Lyon, Senator Gerard Collomb.
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In the framework of his official visit to France, President Serzh Sargsyan on November 13 left for Lyon, which has a large and well-organized Armenian community, where he met with the Mayor of Lyon, Senator Gerard Collomb.
The parties spoke with satisfaction about the well-established and efficient cooperation between Yerevan and Lyon which already has some history and highly valued Armenian-French partnership which is developing in that format. From that point of view, stressed was the importance of the traditionally regular and reciprocal visits of the representatives of the two City Halls.
President Serzh Sargsyan expressed gratitude to Gerard Collomb for his continued interest towards Armenia and issues which concern Armenians, as well as for the multifaceted assistance, particularly, Senator Collomb’s indispensable contribution to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and his input in the development of the relations between Yerevan and Lyon. The President of Armenia expressed confidence that the Armenian-French friendship will continue to strengthen also thanks to the activities and friendship of Armenia’s and France’s sister towns.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Mayor of Lyon, Senator Gerard Collomb hosted an official dinner in honor of President Serzh Sargsyan.
In Lyon, President Sargsyan met also with the representatives of the business community of France. At the meeting in the Trade and Industry Chamber of Rhône-Alpes - one of the major industrial regions of France, President Serzh Sargsyan made a statement. He spoke of recent initiatives and developments which were of interest for the entrepreneurs of France and Lyon in particular, implemented reforms, Armenian-French economic ties, historical trade relations and prospects of deepening these relations. Serzh Sargsyan noted that if existing Armenian-French potential in that area is fully and efficiently realized, economic opportunities of independent Armenia will allow to increase considerably, even multiply the turnover between the two countries.
“The Armenian-French Business Club has been functioning in Armenia since last year, and yesterday the President of France Francois Hollande suggested transforming it into the Trade and Industry Chamber. We accept that proposal with great pleasure. The Club provides professional and information support, organizes regular thematic roundtables and serves to strengthen the French business community in Armenia and ensure a greater involvement of the French companies in the Armenian market. At the same time, I highly value the forthcoming programs of the French Development Agency aimed at the enhancement of Armenia’s advancement. We pin great hopes on the activities of that Agency since we are aware of its capabilities, since we are aware of the desire of the French leadership and since we are ready to do our best to make the Agency’s activities in Armenia a success,” President Sargsyan said.
The President of Armenia wished success to the entrepreneurs who participated at the meeting in their future activities and joint programs for the benefit of the Armenian-French relations and strengthening of the friendship of the two nations.
Later, at the City Hall of Lyon, Mayor Gerard Collomb hosted a reception in honor of the President of Armenia which was attended also by the representatives of the Armenian-French community. At the reception, President Serzh Sargsyan was bestowed the Medal of Honor of Lyon.
“Vivid proofs of friendship between Yerevan and Lyon are to be found in the center of the multinational Lyon where the Saint Hakop Apostolic Church is located on the Armenia Street, a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide installed at the Place Bellecour, and finally memories are fresh of the Lyon Garden opened last year in Yerevan, which was officially inaugurated in the presence of Mr. Collomb.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Each time I visit France, I feel like I am home and somewhat unintentionally I mentally turn the pages of our unshakeable friendship’s rich memory book which contains amazing parallels. And then comes the unwitting desire to say “thanks” to you, dear people of France, dear citizens of Lyon for being by our side during our most ominous tragedies.
We are approaching the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and we have to make our national struggle more organized so that this crime against humanity is never committed again. I am confident that sooner of later, Turkey will be compelled to accept the truth. It is probably the minimum of what’s needed for having relations with Europe, and it was stated explicitly yesterday by the President of France Mr. Hollande,” President Sargsyan said.