FAREWELL VISIT OF AMBASSADOR OF FRANCE TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Oct 24 2006

On October 23 the President of the National Assembly of the Republic
of Armenia received the Ambassador of France in Armenia Mr. Henry
Cuny on the occasion of the end of his ambassadorial mission.

"Thanking you for the efficient joint work I would like to express
in your person the pledge of friendship towards the Armenian people,"
said Mr. Cuny and assured that the departure from Armenia does not mean
a farewell to Armenia. Later on Mr. Cuny will officiate in Slovakia,
but he intends to contribute to the continuation of educational
programs as much as it is possible. About his five-year tenure in
Armenia Mr. Cuny said, that they have been interesting and important
working years, he has also obtained dozens of friends. Mr. Cuny
stressed the importance of the development of Francophonie in
Armenia, as the European values are on the basis of it, and the way
of integration to Europe becomes shorter with the development of
Francophonie values. The Ambassador of France in Armenia also touched
upon the forthcoming general elections, stressing the importance
of 2007 parliamentary elections in the context of 2008 presidential
elections. The Ambassador noted that the coming elections will be an
examination for Armenia on its way to democracy, and from the view of
the development of the country it is very important to successfully
pass this examination.

Mr. Tigran Torosyan thanked Mr. Cuny noting that the years of his
mission have been a decisive period of the irreversibility of returning
to European family, and expressed willingness to support him from
now on. Thanks to the Ambassador’s efforts the French culture and
language really got more disseminated in our country. The President
of the National Assembly noted that Mr. Cuny leaves a good, but at
the same time complicated inheritance for his successor, because
the new Ambassador will have to maintain and continue what already
exists. For the success of the forthcoming general elections the NA
President highlighted the importance of consolidation of political
forces. He noted that the successful examination of democracy depends
not only on the adoption of laws, but also on their enforcement in real
life. It is time not to provide objective explanations for mistakes,
but find ways of eliminating them.

During the meeting the parties spoke also about the draft law
of condemning the denial of the Armenian Genocide adopted by the
National Assembly of France. At the Ambassador’s request the President
of the National Assembly shared his impression about the adoption
of the draft law and the reaction that followed it. Quoting words
by Jacques Chirac said on another occasion: "They lost their best
possibility to stay silent," Mr. Torosyan described the behaviour of
those organizations that have condemned the decision of the National
Assembly of France. And the reactions of Turkey and Azerbaijan are not
absolutely within the limits of logic and common sense. Mr. Torosyan
noted that the draft law does not aim to arrest anybody, but calls for
vigilance, for not putting up moral issues to a political auction,
because those who try to teach France democracy, find themselves in
a ridiculous situation.