President Vahagn Khachaturyan met with Delegation of France-Armenia Friendship Group

President of the Republic Vahagn Khachaturyan today received a delegation headed by Fabrice Pannekoucke, President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. The delegation also included Gilbert-Luc Devinaz, President of the France-Armenia Friendship Group of the French Senate, as well as several representatives of French regional and local governments. The delegation visited Armenia to participate in the 5th Armenia-France Decentralized Cooperation Conference.

Welcoming the guests, the President stated: “Decentralized cooperation holds a unique place in Armenian-French relations. It began back in the 1990s, but has taken on a more pronounced and important character especially after the events of 2020.

I thank you for the support You have shown also as local authorities. Your public statements, the decisions You’ve adopted, and especially Your practical actions have provided us with great support.

One of the most important aspects of this cooperation is that several tangible programs have already been implemented in various regions of Armenia — in Syunik, Tavush, and Gegharkunik. These programs cover agriculture, healthcare, and education, and most importantly, they contribute to the capacity building of local self-government bodies.”

Expressing gratitude for the reception, French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies said: “Thank you, Mr. President, for receiving us and dedicating Your time. If today’s 5th Armenia-France Decentralized Cooperation Conference was a success, it is thanks to the joint and effective work of the Armenian and French local authorities, for which we are deeply grateful.”

During the meeting, the sides discussed ways to clarify and expand the multifaceted partnership agenda between Armenia and France.

The ways of expanding decentralized cooperation were discussed, with special attention to ongoing and prospective programs in defense, energy, agriculture, education, infrastructure, healthcare, humanitarian, and environmental sectors.

Discussions included the exchange of professional experience, provision of technical assistance, implementation of joint projects, and the need to develop local capacities.

It was noted that cooperation between Armenian and French cities in the “twin cities” format serves as an important tool for strengthening decentralized collaboration and can provide a significant boost to the implementation of projects at the community level. Joint initiatives aimed at environmental protection and improvement of the urban environment were also emphasized.

The importance of fostering collaboration between business circles of the two countries was also highlighted, particularly in terms of attracting investments and strengthening trade and economic ties.

Throughout the meeting, the commitment to deepening the Armenia-France friendship and continuing the partnership based on mutual trust was reaffirmed.