Armenia is a meeting point between West and East, North and South: Exclusive interview with France’s new ambassador

Florian Escudié is beginning his first ambassadorial posting in Armenia. Just weeks ago, France’s newly appointed ambassador set foot in the country for the first time with one clear objective: when he returns home after he finishes his mandate, he wants people in Armenia to remember him as a diplomat who helped keep the momentum and build stronger, more substantial and more enduring relations between the two countries.

In an interview with Armenpress, the newly appointed ambassador acknowledged that Armenia had captured his interest not only as a diplomat, but also as someone who has been fascinated by Armenian culture, cuisine and mountains since childhood. One of his goals is to reach the 4,090-metre summit of Mount Aragats.

Armenpress: Mr Ambassador, Armenia is effectively where you are beginning your diplomatic journey as an ambassador. How do you envisage your first diplomatic experience in this capacity?

Ambassador Escudié: In fact, I already have quite extensive, long-standing and solid diplomatic experience. I have been a diplomat for around 20 years and have held various positions both in France and in other countries. But you are right: this is the first time I am leading an embassy, serving as an ambassador. It is a very demanding and exciting position.  This is also a big responsibility.

Before being appointed ambassador, you worked at the French Ministry of the Armed Forces. Do you think the professional expertise you gained in that field could prove useful in your diplomatic work in Armenia?

In fact, I did not work in the Armed Forces. I was seconded by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to work at the Ministry of Defence for a period of time. That experience taught me a great deal. It enabled me to gain a better understanding of security and defence issues, of which there are many in the South Caucasus. These include conflicts, access to natural resources and often complex relations with large neighbouring countries such as Russia, Türkiye and Iran. I hope this experience will enable me to help my authorities better understand and interpret the strategic situation in the region.

I should add that I worked on issues that are particularly important for Armenia. One example is cybersecurity. I also worked with representatives of the military and the defence industry, and I believe that experience will be particularly valuable in strengthening Armenian-French relations in this field as well.

Let us continue with perhaps the most common and expected question: how would you assess Armenian-French relations at present?

I think everyone would agree on the answer to that question: today, these relations are exceptional both in their scope and in their depth. Naturally, we are not starting from scratch; we have a very rich history of relations. Even without going too far back and referring to the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, we know that in the 19th and 20th centuries French intellectuals and statesmen raised their voices in support of Armenia and the Armenian people during the repression carried out by the Ottoman Empire and publicly expressed their concern. During the Genocide, we fulfilled our duty. In particular, we can recall the episode at Musa Dagh, when Admiral Louis Dartige du Fournet and his fleet rescued around 4,000 Armenians. In the 1910s and 1920s, we welcomed tens of thousands of Armenians to France.

Turning to more recent times, we have been unequivocal in supporting Armenia in preserving its territorial integrity and in helping it find a path towards peace.

Fortunately, our relations are not confined solely to those difficult periods. Today, we have a very rich partnership that is focused on the future. And I would say that we have made considerable progress.

President Macron’s state visit to Armenia in May provided an opportunity to outline the framework for the strategic partnership, which will give fresh impetus to all the initiatives undertaken by those involved in Armenian-French relations.

Indeed, you have arrived in Armenia at a time when Armenian-French relations are at a very high level. What do you consider your main priority during the coming years of your tenure in our country?

In fact, I do not think we have reached the peak of our relations. We can always go further. As they say, the sky is the limit. When the French President attended the Yerevan Dialogue international forum, he said that there was an “Armenian momentum”.

Armenia is on the path towards peace and is undergoing profound economic and social transformation, and our objective is to support Armenia along that path. The country is experiencing extraordinary economic growth and there is a desire to connect with the region and the wider world and to become more closely integrated with them.

To return to your question, I believe my mission and priority are to ensure that France is present during this new chapter in history and that all the seeds we are planting grow into genuinely strong and viable trees.

Mr Ambassador, are there particular sectors of the economy or business in which France could make its largest investments in Armenia and, conversely, Armenia in France?

It is worth noting that many companies are already present in Armenia and are part of Armenians’ everyday lives. Carrefour, AXA and Veolia, in particular, are names that Armenians encounter in their daily lives. You will soon receive new biometric passports developed by a French company, IN Groupe. Naturally, however, there is still room for progress. I think there remains an imbalance between the political momentum, our historically established cultural relations on the one hand, and our economic relations on the other hand. The latter are developing and advancing quite rapidly, but there is still some way to go.

We have also made significant efforts in the defence sector, with substantial equipment supplied to the Armenian Armed Forces.

There are other areas as well. Yesterday — (the interview was conducted on 11 September) — the Armenian Prime Minister, during a conversation with the French President, mentioned the Bargushat tunnel, whose construction will involve a French company as well as the French Development Agency. Infrastructure is a key area at the heart of the connectivity agenda and of Prime Minister Pashinyan’s “Crossroads of Peace” initiative.

Beyond infrastructure, we are also interested in new technologies and the digital sector. Armenia has considerable intellectual capital and substantial expertise, and we want to work with companies and scientists in this field.

As for your question about what investments Armenians could make in France, it is true that Armenian investment is currently quite limited, but France is naturally interested in attracting what it does not already have. We are ready to examine programmes and projects if there are any.

In addition, as you know, the European Union has temporarily opened its market to imports of Armenian products in response to restrictions on imports into Russia. This will give the Armenian producers to get more familiar with the European market and may, in turn, open up new opportunities for the future.

Let us return to the strategic partnership between our countries. Perhaps you have also brought new initiatives with you to Armenia, or perhaps you know what new stage lies ahead for the Armenia-France strategic partnership?

The leaders of our two countries discuss these issues regularly. They did it this week in Paris. Our primary objective is, first and foremost, to consolidate what we already have, before announcing new initiatives. We have just spoken about economic progress. We want to involve all those engaged in Armenian-French relations in this progress.

I have only just arrived, and it is still too early for me to submit new proposals to my Government, but naturally I intend to do so.

In any field, however strong relations may be, there are inevitably some disagreements. Is there any issue on which Armenia and France have a pronounced difference of opinion?

Frankly, I cannot think of such an issue. Perhaps there is just one: the great Charles Aznavour said that he was 100 per cent French and, at the same time, 100 per cent Armenian. To this day, some people insist that he was more French, while others say he was more Armenian. Perhaps that is the only Armenian-French disagreement. (smiles)

Armenia and Azerbaijan are taking steps towards signing a peace agreement. What role can France play in supporting the peace process between the two countries? From a diplomat’s perspective, is the end of the process now in sight?

France was heavily involved in the preceding phase that led to the development of this peace agreement. As early as October 2022 in Prague, Emmanuel Macron set out certain prerequisites for peace, in particular recognition of Armenia’s territorial integrity and the deployment of an observer mission. We subsequently supported the agreement initialed in Washington in August 2025. Naturally, the agreement must still be signed and eventually ratified before it can enter into force, but the positive effects of peace are already visible. If you ask residents of Tavush, Syunik and Gegharkunik about their present living conditions — now that there is no longer any shooting and goods are able to move across the border — I think they would say that life is easier now than it was before.

French diplomacy can play a role if we are asked to do so. However, I think bilateral relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan are proceeding quite well today. Anyway, we remain at disposal.

Armenia is actively seeking closer integration with the European Union, but it appears that there are still certain obstacles to overcome. In your view, what is the main obstacle on that path, and how does France view the prospect of Armenia’s integration into the EU?

First of all, I think it is a positive development that a relationship of trust has been established between Armenia and the European Union and that there is a desire to deepen those relations. This was demonstrated, first and foremost, by the first European Union-Armenia summit in May and by the visit to Armenia of the President of the European Commission and other members. At times of crisis, the European Union provides support to Armenia — for example, in the field of trade, as I mentioned earlier, or by deploying missions that help Armenia protect its sovereignty in the face of hybrid attacks. The other questions concern the format and the shape we want these relations to take in the future.

It has already been decided to describe the relationship between Armenia and the European Union as a strategic partnership. I know that Armenia has adopted a law on launching the process of joining the European Union, but at this stage Armenia has not yet submitted a formal application for EU membership.

I think it is very important, first and foremost, to discuss our common objectives and reach a shared understanding of each other’s expectations before launching a formal accession process, which is indeed a rather long and complex process.

Visa liberalisation, incidentally, is also a rather long and complex process. Our people enjoy travelling, and Europe can sometimes be difficult to access precisely because of visa requirements. In this context, I would also like to address another difficult issue: the bureaucracy at embassies and the lengthy queues. Is there a possibility that, at least at the French Embassy, this process could be made more accessible?

On the first part of your question, I should point out that this is a relatively new process. Armenia formally applied for the visa liberalization to the European Union in 2024. In 2025, we jointly established a roadmap with clear criteria. At the 2026 European Union-Armenia summit, it was noted that substantial progress had been made.

As you said, Armenians enjoy travelling and want to engage in tourism or trade with European Union countries, and I understand their impatience. However, if we want this liberalisation to be sustainable and lasting, we need to proceed methodically and meet all the criteria. One of those criteria, for example, is ensuring security when verifying the identities of visa applicants. A French company I mentioned earlier, IN Groupe, is assisting with the introduction of new biometric passports, which will represent concrete progress in that context.

As for your question about the work of the consular section of the French Embassy, I should point out that over the past four or five years there has been a very significant increase in visa applications, as air links have expanded, there are more direct flights and relations have become more dynamic. To respond to this new situation, we have changed our overall organisational approach. We have divided the work: on the one hand, TLScontact receives the applications; on the other, consular staff process those applications and prepare the decisions. This new organisational method is still relatively recent, and we need to make further progress in reducing the waiting time for appointments. We are also paying close attention to ensuring that the period between submitting an application and receiving a decision is kept as short as possible.

Mr Ambassador, this is your first time in Armenia. What has attracted you most, or perhaps surprised you, about our country at first sight?

I was immediately struck by the Armenian people’s very distinctive, clearly defined and strong sense of identity. At the same time, they are very open to the wider world. At the weekend, I was walking through the streets of Yerevan and heard many languages — English, Russian, Persian, French and German — and saw restaurants representing all kinds of cultures. You could say that your country is a meeting point between West and East, North and South. This is what I do like in Armenia.

Do you already have a favourite place in Yerevan — somewhere where you feel particularly relaxed?

Yes, I have already had the opportunity to walk through the parks, which are particularly pleasant at this time of year. They are places where you can talk with friends, spend time with family, relax, work and read. So the parks and green spaces are what I like most in Yerevan.

Before coming here, how familiar was Florian Escudié, simply as a private citizen, with our country and culture? Had you had contact with Armenians? Do you have Armenian friends?

Like many French people, I know many Armenians from the diaspora. When I was a child, our neighbours were the children of Armenians who had survived the Genocide. We spent a great deal of time together and tasted Armenian dishes. We also spent our holidays together. But I know that there are also differences between Armenians in the diaspora and Armenians living in the Republic of Armenia. I am very interested in discovering this other part of the Armenian people.

So you are already familiar with Armenian cuisine. Do you have any favourite dishes?

I am more familiar with the cuisine of the western part, but generally speaking, I am very fond of lavash, basturma, Armenian fruit and vegetables — especially pomegranates and apricots — as well as the cheeses. But, of course, I want to discover more. For example, I have heard a great deal about the wines...

Mr Ambassador, during our conversation I noticed that you say “thank you” in very clear Armenian. Is that still the only Armenian expression you know, or can we assume that you are trying to learn our language?

I know that the Armenian language lies at the heart of the Armenian people’s identity, so it is important for me to understand it to some extent and to be able to speak Armenian. I have therefore started taking Armenian lessons so that I can understand and recognise the alphabet and try, to some extent, to capture the spirit of the language.

Have you asked your colleagues who have served in Armenia which picturesque places you should visit and what you should discover about the country?

Yes, I have spoken a great deal with my predecessors, and not only about tourism. Each of them certainly had their own favourite places. Personally, I am drawn to the mountains. I would very much like to see Mount Aragats and perhaps even climb it. I would also like to go to Tsaghkadzor in winter and ski. Naturally, I also want to see all the monasteries and, more generally, all the wonders of Armenia’s cultural heritage — Khor Virap, Garni, Lake Sevan and other places.

Both Armenian and French have a wealth of adjectives. If you had to describe Armenian-French relations today in a single word, which adjective would you choose? And how would you like to describe them years from now, when your diplomatic mission in our country comes to an end?

To describe our relations today, I would use the word “intense” (pronounces the word in Armenian). In three years’ time, I would like to be able to say that our relations are even more intense. (smiles)

To conclude our conversation, is there anything I have not asked you about that you would nevertheless like to mention?

I would simply like to add that I am very interested in discovering the country and its people, and from the coming days onwards I intend to visit many places both in Yerevan and beyond the capital.

Thank you for choosing us for your first interview.

Thank you for the warm and welcoming reception.