The Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandian, who is in Paris on a working visit, met with his French counterpart Alain Juppe.

The sides mutually expressed satisfaction with the high level reciprocal visits and political dialogue, wide legal framework background, strong inter-parliamentary ties, intensive decentralized cooperation and growing presentence of French companies in Armenia.

Alain Juppe underlined that truly friendly and close relationships have been formed between Armenia and France.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and France had a thorough talk on the steps undertaken towards the development of bilateral relations, as well as international and regional issues of mutual interests. Edward Nalbandian and Alain Juppe stated that the positions of Armenia and France on a number of international issues correspond.

The Ministers discussed the relations between Armenia and the European Union, as well as the projects being implemented in the frames of it, exchanged views on the cooperation between Armenia and France in the international organizations, touched upon the activity of the International Organization of the Francophonie.

The settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issues was on the agenda of the talks, as well. The sides mutually stressed the absence of any alternative solution of the issues to the peaceful solution and negotiations. Edward Nalbandian highly assessed the constructive engagement of France as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair.

The Armenian Foreign Minister invited his French counterpart to visit Armenia.

On May 17, Edward Nalbandian met with the French President's Diplomatic Advisor Mr. Jean-David Levitte. In the course of the meeting were discussed issues related to the visit of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Armenia scheduled in the second half of this year, as well as the preparatory works of the upcoming visit of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to France.

The meeting of Edward Nalbandian with the members of French Senate and National Assembly is scheduled on May 18.