15:38,

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan on Monday held a meeting with Member of the National Assembly of France, head of the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Bertrand Bouyx.

Speaker Simonyan lauded the warm relations and productive cooperation between the Armenian and French delegations in PACE.

He thanked the 97-member France-Armenia parliamentary friendship group, which includes Bouyx, for supporting Armenia, the parliament’s press service said in a readout.

During the meeting the sides discussed the strengthening and deepening Armenia-EU ties, the Armenia-EU visa liberalization dialogue, opportunities for intensifying bilateral economic ties and the unwavering implementation of democratic reforms in Armenia.

Bertrand Bouyx said it’s inspiring to see that democracy in Armenia is strong and visible despite the difficulties. He said Armenia’s ratification of the Rome Statute was an important step.

Speaking about regional challenges, the sides exchanges views on the ongoing talks around a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the immediate release of Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan, as well as the normalization between Armenia and Turkiye.

Bouyx reiterated that France is committed to its friendship with Armenia and stands with Armenia at this difficult time.

Vice Speaker Ruben Rubinyan, the head of the Armenian delegation to PACE, also participated in the meeting.