President met with the Mayor of Lyon Gérard Collomb

President Serzh Sargsyan, who is in France on official visit, today left Paris for Lyon, which has a sizable Armenian population. In Lyon, he met with the Mayor of Lyon Gérard Collomb. Before that, the delegation of the President of Armenia visited La Place Bellecour and laid a wreath at the memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide and paid tribute to their memory.

At the meeting, which took place at the City Hall, President Sargsyan thanked Mayor Collomb for the warm welcome and noted that their meetings are becoming a good tradition which should be used for the expansion and strengthening of the bilateral relations. The President of Armenia expressed confidence that Lyon - one of the best cities in France - is developing by year, which is also a personal achievement of the mayor since he has dedicated a large part of his life and work to this city.

Serzh Sargsyan said that he was aware that Mayor Collomb is very considerate towards the issues which concern the Armenians and expressed gratitude on the occasion. President Sargsyan expressed hope that Gérard Collomb will continue to use his valuable experience and knowledge to promote cooperation between Lyon and Yerevan.

The President of Armenia assured that the efforts of Mayor Collomb aimed at the strengthening of the friendship of the two peoples, as well as his years-long principled position on the Armenian Genocide do not go unnoticed.

At the meeting, the parties discussed decentralized cooperation, issues related to the deepening of cooperation in the areas of science, education, economy and other areas. In the Lyon City Hall, the President of Armenia also made an inscription in the Livre d’Or, “ I return each time with a great affection to Lyon which has become so dear to me, which enchants with its beauty, harmony, boundless vitality, and a creative atmosphere. These are features which are inherent to the Armenian nature and identity. I am thankful to the authorities of Lyon for the hospitality extended to the Armenian delegation, for accepting our compatriots with open hearts at the difficult moment. I am proud that as much as this city has been hospitable towards the Armenians, the Armenians, who have re-found their homeland here, in return love and enrich Lyon. Let the Armenian-French friendship always be mutually enriching,” wrote the President of Armenia.

At the conclusion of the meeting, President Sargsyan awarded Mayor Collomb with the Order of Honor for his considerable contribution to the strengthening and development of the Armenian-French friendly relations.

In honor of the President of the Republic of Armenia, Mayor of Lyon Gérard Collomb gave an official dinner.