Newly appointed French ambassador hands credentials

Newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the Republic of Armenia Jonathan Lacôte handed today his credentials to President Serzh Sargsyan.

Congratulating the Ambassador on assumption of office, the President of Armenia wished him every success in his diplomatic mission and expressed the hope that Ambassador Lacôte’s activities might write a new chapter in the history of Armenian-French relations.

The President and the French Ambassador expressed a common opinion that the upward trends in Armenian-French relations of exclusive partnership fully meet the spirit of the centuries-old friendship between the two peoples. Serzh Sargsyan considered it emblematic that the newly appointed Ambassador was starting his diplomatic mission in Armenia in the year of the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and France.

Emphasizing that the two countries boast a sustained political dialogue, extensive high-level contacts and mutual visits, Serzh Sargsyan stressed the importance of activating the Armenian-French trade and economic relations.

Highlighting the role of inter-parliamentary cooperation in the strengthening and deepening of interstate relations, the President stated with satisfaction that the Armenian and French parliamentarians keep in close touch as they effectively cooperate not only in bilateral format, but also within the framework of international parliamentary organizations. The President of Armenia stressed the importance of the group of friendship with Nagorno-Karabakh, established in French Parliament as early as in 2013.

The interlocutors touched upon the prospects for the development of these relations, including the preparations for the upcoming signing in Brussels of an agreement on Comprehensive and Enhanced Cooperation. President Sargsyan stressed that he considers it important and highly appreciates France’s active involvement as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group in the peace talks over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Coming to the cooperation in the humanitarian and cultural sphere, the parties made a point of the 2018 Summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie in Armenia as a major event that would bring to Yerevan numerous high-level delegations from Francophone countries. President Serzh Sargsyan stressed that Armenia will do everything possible to host and hold the Summit at a high level.