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On November 22, the NA President of the Republic of France Richard Ferrand hosted the Delegation led by the RA NA President Alen Simonyan being in Paris on a working visit.

After the exchange of greetings, the sides thoroughly discussed the provocative and aggressive actions of Azerbaijan happened a few days ago on the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan, as a consequence of which there were victims, captive Armenian servicemen and missing persons. Alen Simonyan has noted that the attack is the continuation of the consistent policy of the Azerbaijani side to occupy the territories of the Republic of Armenia, which has been launched since May 12 of this year by penetrating of the Azerbaijani armed forces to Syunik and Gegharkunik marzes. According to the NA President, this was also an attack on democracy.

The events followed the 44-day war and the challenges directed to the security of Armenia and the region and the stability were at the core of the counterparts’ discussion. Alen Simonyan expressed his gratitude to France for the great attention shown towards Armenian prisoners of war held as hostages, the return of the civilians, the right of the Artsakh Armenians refugees, the protection of historical-cultural heritage being under the Azerbaijani control by the heads of different wings of power, as well as by the public figures. He considered remarkable resolution ‘on the Protection of Armenian people and Christian Communities in Europe and the East’ adopted by an overwhelming majority of votes on December 3, 2020 by the National Assembly of France. According to the RA NA President, the resolutions adopted by the Senate of France and the National Assembly are to be an important milestone for the fair settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and for strengthening the active role of France in that process.

The President of the National Assembly has stated that France has been and remains the friend of Armenia, irrespective of being geographically far.

The parties affirmed with satisfaction the firmness of the inter-parliamentary cooperation, distinguishing in their continuous development the role of the Friendship Groups of the legislative bodies of Armenia and France. At the end of the meeting, the colleagues underlined the importance of the joint efforts in the continuity of cooperation in different spheres between Armenia and France.

The Delegation led by the RA NA President is in France at the invitation of the President of the Senate of France Gérard Larcher. Within the two-day working visit, the Delegation will take part in the Conference entitled ‘Armenia After One Year’ to be held under the high auspices of the President of the Senate of France.