Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today received Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Secretary of State at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The meeting was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the Republic of Armenia Jonathan Lacôte.

Prime Minister Pashinyan noted that the Secretary of State had been visiting Armenia for the third time over the past 5 months, and that the Armenian side highly appreciated President Macron’s determination and supportive steps to reach out to the Armenian people in this challenging period. The Premier stressed that as paid on the occasion of the 106th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide the French delegation’s visit is a proof of strong Armenian-French friendship, which is anchored on deep-rooted values of historical, cultural and political relations.

“France has played a key role in the process of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. January this year marked 20 years since the adoption of a law on Armenian Genocide recognition by France. A landmark was the commemoration of April 24 as the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in the French state calendar by the decree initiated by President Emmanuel Macron. The Armenian people are grateful for the support provided by friendly France,” the Premier said.

Thankful for Nikol Pashinyan’s kind remarks, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne said it was an honor for him to be with Armenia and the Armenian people tomorrow, April 24, in his capacity of Special Representative of the President of France and participate in commemorative events. He pointed out that this year France is attending the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide at the level of delegations from both legislative and executive authorities. Sensitive to the tragedy that befell the Armenian people, France is thereby expressing its support and sympathy as vividly evidenced by the adoption of a law on Armenian genocide recognition by the French Republic and by the fact that for 3 years now April 24 has been commemorated as the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in the French state calendar on President Macron’s initiative. The Secretary of State advised that tomorrow commemorative events will be held in France.

The Armenian Prime Minister and the French Secretary of State exchanged views on the situation established following the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and the opening of regional communications. Nikol Pashinyan prioritized the provision of regional stability, the repatriation of Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan, and the resumption of negotiations in the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing format.

The Premier expressed deep concern over Azerbaijan’s continued aggressive anti-Armenian rhetoric, which unveils its ambitions towards Armenia’s internationally recognized sovereign territory. The head of the Armenian government condemned the inauguration of the so-called Trophy Park in Baku, emphasizing that such an overt anti-Armenian policy is the weightiest reason for applying the principle of “remedial secession” in the case of Artsakh.

At the request of the French Secretary of State, the Prime Minister referred to the proposed snap parliamentary elections in Armenia and the constitutional procedures. Nikol Pashinyan stressed that a primary task is to maintain the democratic quality of elections, adding that Armenia managed to ensure the democratic nature of the ongoing processes all the way through the post-war crisis. In this context, both sides stressed the importance of involving international observers in the electoral process.

The interlocutors discussed the agenda of the Armenian-French economic cooperation, referred to the fulfillment of the agreements reached during the preceding discussion. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the fact that a good deal of work had been done to deepen economic interaction, and new joint programs had been outlined. The importance of continued contacts was stressed in this context.

Prime Minister Pashinyan asked State Secretary Lemoyne to forward his invitation for President Macron to visit Armenia at his convenience.