On January 28, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ara Aivazian met with the delegation headed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, who is on a working visit to Armenia.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and the Secretary of State of France had a detailed discussion on the Armenian-French bilateral agenda, reiterating the mutual readiness to undertake practical steps aimed at strengthening and expanding the multifaceted partnership. As a priority, the sides emphasized the effective utilization of the potential of trade and economic cooperation, including through the implementation of new targeted programs by the French Development Agency in Armenia, and monitoring new investment opportunities.

Minister Aivazian and Secretary of State Lemoyne also touched upon the issues of regional security and stability. Minister Aivazian expressed his gratitude to France for its unbiased  position and assessment on the large-scale aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh and the Armenian people.

Both sides highlighted the imperative for a political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue within the framework of the peace process under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. Minister Aivazian noted that the cornerstone of the establishment of lasting peace, security and stability in the region is the determination of the legal status of Artsakh, based on the right of the Armenians of Artsakh to self-determination.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia drew the attention of Secretary of State Lemoyne to the issue of immediate repatriation of the Armenian prisoners of war being held in Azerbaijan, as well as to the fake impediments created by Azerbaijan in that regard.

The issues of preservation of the Armenian historical-cultural monuments were also at the center of discussions.  In this context, the interlocutors highlighted the importance of continuous involvement of specialized international organizations, particularly UNESCO, as well as use of the opportunities of bilateral cooperation.