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On November 26, the Vice President of the National Assembly Mrs. Arevik Petrosyan met the deputies of the National Assembly of France, representative of the parliamentary majority, the first Deputy Mayor of the city of Marseilles Mr. Roland Blum and the member of the opposition Socialist Party Mr. Christian Bataille.

Welcoming the guests’ visit to Armenia, Mrs. Petrosyan characterized the relations of Armenia and France friendly and warm, and for their development the historical-cultural centuries-long ties and the existence of the Armenian big and influential community in France had been serious factor. The Vice President added that the friendship of long standing had been a high basis for developing the further relations and especially the inter-parliamentary cooperation.

Mrs. Petrosyan noted that Armenia highlighted the development of its relations with France both in bilateral and multilateral formats, as well as in the OSCE Minsk Group as the efforts of France as co-chair country. Mr. Christian Bataille, who is a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the French Parliament, noted that they visited Armenia by the assignment of the Committee on Foreign Relations: for implementing fact-finding mission the deputies will present a report on the South Caucasus region. After visiting Armenia the delegates of the National Assembly of France will also visit Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Mr. Bataille also emphasized that Armenia presented special interest for the French with its centuries-long friendship, 400.000 people of the Armenian community. France is interested in the problems, concerning Armenia, as well as the regulation of NK conflict. Mr. Christian Bataille stresses that he accepts and defends the principle of the national self-determination. Continuing the theme of the NK problem Mr. Roland Blum noted that for the deputies of the National Assembly of France the fact that Artsakh is an Armenian territory, that Karabakh can ever be part of Azerbaijan, cannot be a subject of discussion. In this chain Mr. Blum also noted that the necessity of keeping the Lachin corridor and deploying peace forces in the intermediary zone. The deputy expressed hope that the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group, where as co-chair country France also has its contribution, one day would result in the solution of the problem. During the meeting Mr. Roland Blum also talked about the Armenian-Turkish relations, observing them from the view of the Armenian community of France. According to the Speaker, the community follows with interest and question marks the process and refers to the authorities approach of seeking ways to the outer world with understanding. By his assessment, the regulation of the relations is a reasonable step, provided that the Turkish diplomats should show united approach for forming a public opinion in the international organizations and internal use. In his word, the French deputy considered unacceptable the Turks’ approach of having as a precondition for opening the borders. The NA Vice President expressed her gratitude for sincere assessments and positions, considering that they were directed to the restoration of historical justice, protection of human rights and strengthening democracy. Mrs. Petrosyan noted that the Armenian people cannot let to oblivion the Genocide, and it is an undeniable reality. Without forgetting the memories of the past, Armenia shall go forward.  Mrs. Petrosyan considered remarkable that France was the first country to recognize the Armenian Genocide by law. The French deputy Mr. Blum, who is also the deputy head of the French delegation in OSCE PA and Chairman on Economic Affairs, highlighted the cooperation of the two countries in different international organizations. He noted that they saw Armenia’s efforts aimed at the reforms of governance, strengthening of democracy, protection of human rights. NA Vice President Mrs. Arevik Petrosyan highly assessed the cooperation of Armenia and France in international organizations, expressing her gratitude in the structures of the parliamentary format for the parliamentary format. Stressing that the European integration is one of the prior foreign political directions, Mrs. Petrosyan noticed that it is artificial and obligatory direction for our country: the European value system is alien to the Armenian people, moreover, Armenia is standing in the bases of that system. The NA Vice President also considered important the support of the European Union in ensuring stability and peace in the region.

At the end of the meeting the Head of Armenia-France Parliamentary Friendship Group Mr. Ara Babloyan conveyed the Armenian people’s sympathy and love towards the French to the high-ranking guests.