In Armen Bayburdian’s Words, Armenian-French Relations Are Not Accep

IN ARMEN BAYBURDIAN’S WORDS, ARMENIAN-FRENCH RELATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTED UNEQUIVOCALLY, WHAT DOES NOT INFLUENCE POSITIVELY ON FRANCE

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 14 2006

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The conference entitled "15 Years of
Independence of Armenia and France" taken place at the National Academy
of Sciences on November 14 on the initiative of the French Embassy to
Armenia and AOKS (Armenian Society for Cultural Links and Cooperation)
was dedicated to the Armenian-French historic-cultural ties.

Tsovinar Chaloyan-Hakobian, the AOKS "Armenia-France" company
chairwoman, mentioned that this conference organized by them is the
8th one and completely dedicated to the year of Armenia in France,
particularly to all the political and cultural developments and
achievements taken place after the independence of Armenia. The
speakers made speeches dedicated to the two countries’ political and
cultural cooperation and relations of 15 years, touching upon the
Armenian-French historic ties as well.

Armen Bayburdian, the RA Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized
that the Armenia-France interstate relations formed still from 1991
are much older and firmer in their basis. Those, according to historic
evidences, were formed still during the Crusades years.

And during the period of Napoleon Bonaparte’s ruling Armenians were
patronized just by the great conqueror.

Armen Bayburdian is sure that the peculiarity of the Armenian-French
relations is that those are built not only on bilateral state
interests: existence of the French Armenian powerful community of many
thousands was also attached importance here. Armenians, with their rich
cultural heritage, greatly assisted development of the French culture.

In the Deputy Minister’s words, France was among the first ones that
recognized the independence of Armenia on March 3, 1992. And the
French parliament recognized the 1915 Armenian Genocide in 2001. It
became a great spur for development of the process of recognizing the
genocide in other countries. "The Armenian-French relations are not
accepted unequivocally in the region and international political field,
what often does not have positive political or economic consequences
for France," A.Bayburdian mentioned. The latter also stated that
Azerbaijan does not take part in those regional programs in which
France is also involved.

A.Bayburdian also stated that France annually makes investment of 47
mln dollars in Armenia, and 118 companies implement economic joint
programs here. Besides, the French government annually allocates 540
thousand evros for implementation of cultural programs in Armenia.