SERZH SARGSYAN: ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD PERCEIVE FRANCE AS CLOSE FRIEND

Noyan Tapan
March 11, 2010

PARIS, MARCH 11, NOYAN TAPAN. A meeting of Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan and French President Nicolas Sarkozy took place at the Elysee
Palace on March 10.

The two presidents discussed the Nagorno Karabakh peace process
(France is one of the three Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group), issues
related to regional security, Armenia-Turkey normalization process,
as well as other subjects of mutual interest. Presidents Sargsyan and
Sarkozy also spoke about further deepening of the bilateral economic
and trade ties, expansion of cooperation in the humanitarian area,
and exchanged views on Armenia-EU relations.

The press service of the Armenian president reports that the two
sides agreed to continue high level contacts on a regular basis.

Then President Sarkozy gave official dinner in honor of the Armenian
President.

Expressing thanks to President Sarkozy for the invitation to pay an
official visit to France, Serzh Sargsyan highly praised the high level
of the political dialogue existing between the two friendly nations.

The President of Armenia noted that for the further deepening of genial
relations between Armenia and France it is important to maintain
regular contacts and conduct reciprocal visits, exchange views on
bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest. He
also said that in Armenia, as well as in the Armenian communities
all over the world, France is perceived as a close friend, an ally
and a reliable partner in international affairs, which endows the
Armenian-French relations with special meaning. President Sargsyan
noted with satisfaction that relations between Armenia and France
are developing vigorously in all areas. The President of Armenia
once again thanked the people of France and President Sarkozy for
the principled and unwavering position regarding the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide.

President Sarkozy underlined that in France, Armenia and the Armenian
nation are regarded with fondness, while the Armenian-French community
is an indestructible bridge between the two countries and the two
peoples. Nicolas Sarkozy reiterated his country’s determination to
develop relations with Armenia in all directions and underlined that
France has been and remains Armenia’s friend and will always stand
by its side.