NKR PRESIDENT IN FRANCE

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
June 18, 2004

On these days the president of Arkady Ghukassian is in France to
take part in the cultural celebrations devoted to the tenth year
of maintenance of cease-fire in the Karabakh conflict area. The
president visited Marseilles and Nice. At the city hall of Marseilles
Arkady Ghukassian met with the representatives of the local Armenian
community. During the meeting at which were present members of the
National Assembly of France and representatives of the municipality
Arkady Ghukassian presented the social, economic and political
situation in Nagorni Karabakh. At the same time the president
mentioned that during the short period of independence the Republic of
Nagorni Karabakh achieved significant success in building a legitimate
democratic state and forming civil society. In Nice the president also
met with the representatives of the local Armenian community. At the
meeting were present the chairman of the regional council of Alpes
Maritime, the deputy chairman of the National Assembly, members of
parliament, representatives of the municipalities. During the meeting
the participants discussed the situation in the social, economic and
cultural spheres of Nagorni Karabakh. In Nice president Ghukassian
also met with the leaders of the Armenian youth organization of Cote
d’Azur and the reporters of the newspaper “Nice Matin”. According
to the arrangement made beforehand On June 14 Arkady Ghukassian in
France met with the French co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Henry
Jacolen. During the meeting they discussed questions referring to
the prospects of regulation of the Karabakh conflict.