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Armenian Ambassador to France Arman Khachatryan, speaking at the 5th Armenia-France Forum on Decentralized Cooperation in Goris, explained the strategic significance of the decentralized partnership between the two nations.
He underscored the historic Armenian-French ties based on common values.
“Today, Armenia and France, as states, have sustainable and exceptionally special relations which already include strategically important areas such as defense, infrastructure and economy,” the ambassador said, lauding the dynamically developing ties.
He said that decentralized cooperation with France has strategic significance for Armenia.
“First of all, this cooperation contributes to our security. The provinces involved in decentralized cooperation with France, the provinces of Syunik, Gegharkunik, Vayots Dzor, Tavush, are border regions and have significant vulnerability. Today we are in Syunik, and holding this event here is meaningful and expresses our support, the French support for Syunik’s resilience and overall Armenia’s security issues. Second of all, politically, after the 2020 war, during the displacement of the Nagorno-Karabakh population in 2023, nearly all communities of France adopted resolutions, supported and provided serious humanitarian and political support when Armenia was in a difficult situation. One of the important directions of decentralized cooperation is strengthening the communities’ economic capabilities, there are numerous programs in this direction. The other is the involvement of the Armenian Diaspora in the decentralized cooperation,” he said, adding that the cooperation also supports Armenia’s democracy.
“It is also thanks to this cooperation that we bring French experience to help our communities resolve their issues and develop local democracy,” Ambassador Khachatryan said.