On March 11, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with Foreign Minister of France Bernard Kouchner.
Ministers Nalbandian and Kouchner highly appreciated friendly and excellent relations established between Armenia and France and attached importance to the undertaken steps aimed at the further development of comprehensive cooperation between two countries.

In the context of discussions on the maintenance of security in the South Caucasus region Armenian Foreign Minister welcomed the efforts of President Nicolas Sarkozy and the French diplomacy toward the establishment of peace and security in the Caucasus during the presidency of France in the EU.

The two had a detailed discussion on Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) peace process. They both stressed the exclusion of alternative to the settlement of the issue through peace negotiations. Edward Nalbandian highly appreciated the constructive involvement of France the settlement porcess as the Minsk Group Co-Chair country.

Edward Nalbandian invited Bernard Kouchner to visit Armenia.
On the same day Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with Jean-David Levitte, the French President’s adviser on diplomatic and political issues. In the course of the meeting a wide range of issues on enhancement of friendly cooperation between Armenia and France were discussed. The two expressed satisfaction on high level relations between Armenian-French. They discussed actual issues concerning Armenia – EU cooperation, regional and international relations. Minister Nalbandian appreciated the constructive participation of France in the reestablishment of peace and stability in the South Caucasus during her presidency in the EU at the second part of 2008.

In the French Senate which is situated in the Luxembourg Palace Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with the members of the French-Armenian friendship group of the Senate. In the course of the talks Minister Nalbandian and the French Senators attached importance to the activation of parliamentary ties, with mutual visits of friendly groups and parliamentary leadership. They discussed the issues concerning rapprochement of cooperation between the Armenian and French delegations in the Parliamentary Assemblies of the international organizations.

On the same day Edward Nalbandian visited the National Assembly of France where he had a meeting with the members of France – Armenia friendship group. During the meeting Minister Nalbandian touched upon parliamentary diplomacy as an effective format for deepening of comprehensive partnership between Armenia and France.
After the meeting with the members of the Parliamentary group Armenian Foreign Minister delivered a speech before the Committee of Foreign Affairs of French National Assembly. In his speech Edward Nalbandian attached importance to the Armenian-French relations and defined them as an example of friendly partnership. Armenian Foreign Minister also touched upon the cooperation between Armenia and the European Union stressing that the European New Neighbourhood Policy Program and the EU Eastern Partnership proposal create new opportunities for cooperation. Minister Nalbandian also presented in details Armenia’s steps aimed at the strengthening of security and stability in the South Caucasus.

On March 10, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with the French former-president Jacques Chirac. During the meeting which passed in warm and cordial atmosphere they touched upon the Armenian-French relations and their development perspectives. President Chirac and Minister Nalbandian discussed regional and international issues. President Chirac remembered with pleasure his visit to Yerevan in 2006 and said that in the case of opportunity will visit Armenia again.

On the same day Edward Nalbandian visited International Diplomatic Academy of France where he delivered a comprehensive speech on “The South Caucasus: the reality and perspectives”. Politicians and statesmen, Ambassadors and diplomats, political scientists and experts on International Relations, journalists also attended the meeting.

Armenian Foreign Minister touched upon the settlement of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) issue and invited their attention on Azerbiajan’s militaristic and non-constructive policy. According his words in the time when the wounds of the previous war unleashed by Azerbaijan have not yet been cured Baku carries out a policy which provokes a new war. Within the framework of the UN the Azerbaijani side puts into circulation such documents which not only negatively influence the negotiation process but also tries to justify the possible use of force.
Speaking about the process aimed at the establishment of normal relations between Armenia and Turkey Edward Nalbandian said that crucial meeting between Serzh Sargsyan and Abdullah Gul held in Yerevan created opportunity to start negotiations which are in the interest of  two countries and nations and are aimed not only at the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations but also make an important contribution in maintenance of regional security and stability. Armenian Foreign Minister mentioned that he is optimistic over normalization of relations as his meetings with Ali Babacan are constructive and promising.
Answering the question that there are statements in Turkey according to which if Washington recognizes the Armenian Genocide it could harm the process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations Edward Nalbadian said that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations can not dispute the fact of the Armenian Genocide and if the Armenian and Turkish sides have political will and honestly seek to normalize relations then no circumstance can hamper that process.
In International Diplomatic Academy Armenian Foreign Minister also answered the questions on cooperation between Armenian and the European Union, strengthening of stability and cooperation in the Caucasus, Armenian - Iranian and Armenian - Georgian relations and other numerous questions.
On March 10 in the evening, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with the heads of the French leading News Agencies. In the course of the meeting they had a detailed exchange of views on current issues of international relations, strengthening of security and stability in the South Caucasus.