On November 28 Mr. Francois Rochebloine, Chairman of the France-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group of the National Assembly of France, Mr. Alain Moyne-Bressand, member of the Group, and Mr. Jean-Pierre Delannoy, secretary of the Group, met with the members of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations.

Highly appraising the present level of the Armenian-French multilateral relations Mr. Armen Roustamyan, Chairman of the committee, highlighted the further development of the inter-parliamentary relations. Mr. Roustamyan presented the structure, functions and activity of the committee that he heads noting that the following 5 sub-committees function in this committee: on Artsakh issue, on the Defense of the Interests of the RA Citizens living abroad and Armenians by their origin, on the working activities carried out with the international organizations, on integration problems and on the issues of the localization of international experience as well as on the issues of economic relations and regional problems.

Considering the European integration as one of the priorities of the foreign policy of Armenia Mr. Roustamyan noted that the programme of the activities of the European Neighbourhood Policy signed in Brussels on November 14 opens new perspectives in all directions of the development of Armenia-EU relations.

According to Mr. Roustamyan, the Year of Armenia in France gives additional warmth to the Armenian-French friendly relations. Expressing thanks for the adoption of the draft law on Condemning the Denial of the Armenian Genocide by the National Assembly of France Mr. Roustamyan noted that it raised the attention of the international community towards the Armenian Genocide to the new level as well as it will give a new breath to the international recognition of the Genocide and will drive Turkey to see the settlement of the conflict on more realistic and serious ground. Mr. Armen Roustamyan expressed hope that the change in the staff of the Congress of the USA in favor of the MPs having pro-Armenian position, will give an opportunity the Genocide issue to be taken into serious consideration in the USA.

Mr. Francois Rochebloine, Chairman of the France-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group, highlighted the activation of the Armenian-French mutual cooperation emphasizing the development of the inter-parliamentary ties and the deepening of cooperation in the international structures highly assessing in this sense the activity of the Armenian delegation and Mr. Armen Roustamyan in the PACE.

The perspectives of the development of the bilateral relations as well as the issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting.

The members of the Armenia-France Parliamentary Friendship Group of the National Assembly also met with Mr. Francois Rochebloine, Chairman of the France-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group of the National Assembly of France, Mr. Alain Moyne-Bressand, member of the Group, and Mr. Jean-Pierre Delannoy, secretary and head of the financial-budgetary division.

Welcoming the guests Mr. Mher Shahgeldyan, head of the Armenia-France Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, expressed gratitude to the National Assembly of France for adopting the Law on Condemning the Denial of the Armenian Genocide.Mr. Shahgeldyan highlighted the use of the experience of France in electoral activities as well as the necessity of cooperation in the economic sphere.

Mr. Francois Rochebloine visits Armenia for the fifteenth time and notices progress in all spheres. The Head of the Group spoke about the events dedicated to Armenia in France, ensuring that it will not be limited only within the Armenian community. It was also informed that during the Music Festival which will take place in June the Armenian music will sound, which is one more step on the way of deepening Armenian-French relations.

Mr. Alain Moyne-Bressand, member of the France-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group, noted that the churches and the memorials dedicated to the victims of the Genocide were constructed in Isere under Napoleon Burnakian’s sponsorship. It is evident that the Armenian culture and civilization play a serious role in the development of the French culture.

The guests were interested in the level of teaching French in Armenia. Mr. Mher Shahgeldyan, head of the Armenia-France Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, highlighted the role of the French University in Armenia and the European Regional Academy in Armenia in this context.

The participants of the talk expressed readiness to bring a new quality to the inter-parliamentary relations as well as to develop more the cooperation between two countries. During the meeting the issues related to the Armenian-French relations and the issues of mutual interest were also discussed.