Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today received a delegation led by President of the French Senate Gérard Larcher, who has arrived in Armenia to attend the commemorative events dedicated to the 106th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Welcoming the French parliamentary delegation, the Prime Minister appreciated the fact that such a representative French delegation is in Armenia today. “The arrival of such an important delegation from France points to the importance that the French state attaches to its relations with Armenia. We appreciate the sincere desire of the French people to support us,” Nikol Pashinyan said, noting that this is not only a proof of bilateral historical and cultural affinities, but also of the values that Armenia and France share, first of all, in terms of democracy.

Nikol Pashinyan highlighted the role played by France in advocating the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. In this context, he reminded that January this year marked the 20th anniversary of recognition of the Armenian Genocide by France. The Premier hailed President Macron’s initiative to officially commemorate April 24 as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in his country.

Thankful for the warm welcome, Gérard Larcher noted that the arrival of such a large Senate delegation testifies to their solidarity and friendship with Armenia. “We are here to express our solidarity with the Armenian people. 20 years ago, President Jacques Chirac signed the law on recognizing the Armenian Genocide, which proves that we fully share the pain of the Armenian people,” the Senate President said.

Nikol Pashinyan and Gérard Larcher referred to the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh. The Premier stressed the important role of France in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He called of paramount importance the adoption by the French Senate of a resolution on recognition of Artsakh. Nikol Pashinyan thanked the political forces representing the Senate for supporting the passage of such a resolution. “We are grateful for the steps taken by France during the 44-day war. We consider that “remedial secession” is the only formula to apply in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” he said.

Noting that the resolution on recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh is more than a document, Gérard Larcher underscored that the resolution is not just words: it implies specific demands and expectations. “The document provides a leverage through which the negotiations may lead to a lasting peace,” the Senate President said. He prioritized the importance of providing humanitarian assistance to the families of those killed in the war and the families displaced from their homes, adding that continued steps will be taken in this direction.

Gérard Larcher stressed the imperative of repatriating Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan. The Senate President said he had been impressed by the exhibits on display at the “Endangered Heritage: Artsakh” exhibition, opened at the Yerevan Municipality, which are the core of Armenian identity.

The parties touched on issues related to the further development of Armenian-French relations, the strengthening of democracy in our country, the opportunities for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and the activation of the role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.