ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER: KARABAKH CONFLICT CANNOT BE SETTLED BY FORCE

arminfo
2007-09-06 17:35:00

ArmInfo. Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan received First
Secretary of French Socialist Party Francois Hollande and members of
the party, Thursday, Armenian Government press-service told ArmInfo.

Serzh Sargsyan welcomed the guests and said that the visit will
not only boost the inter-party ties, but will also contribute
to strengthening of Armenian-French relations and bilateral
cooperation. The parties expressed satisfaction with the recently
activated bilateral relations and said that the Year of Armenia in
France and the Year of France in Armenia are best evidences of it.

The prime minister informed the guests of the present political
and economic situation in Armenia, the prospects of development and
the relations with neighbors, as well as Armenia’s stand on current
problems and possibilities of further development of Armenian-French
relations in the political, economic, educational, cultural and other
spheres. As regards regional problems, the premier touched upon the
settlement of Karabakh conflict. He informed the French socialists
of Armenia’s approaches that had been repeatedly made public and
expressed hope for peaceful settlement of the conflict through peaceful
negotiations and with the support of OSCE Minsk Group. The problem
cannot be settled by force, the premier stressed. He also added that
France as OSCE MG Co-chair-state carries out a great work in this
direction and it would be very glad if the developing cooperation of
the political forces made additional contribution to the settlement
of problems in the region.

For his part, Francois Hollande touched upon the recognition of
Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915 and said that the French
National Assembly adopted a relevant bill on the initiative of the
Socialist party.

He said the party is currently drafting a new bill criminalizing
Armenian Genocide denial.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress