On April 16, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, who is in Paris on a working visit, met with Jean-Yves Le Drian, Foreign Minister of France.

Thanking for the reception, the Foreign Minister of Armenia noted that it is very emotional to be in Paris today and express our solidarity with France and the French people after the fire in the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral. Minister Mnatsakanyan also handed over to his colleague the letter of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan addressed to the President of France Emmanuel Macron where the Prime Minister expresses hope that through joint efforts the necessary steps will be taken towards restoring the glory of the Cathedral.

Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Jean-Yves Le Drian commended the strong Armenian-French multidimensional cooperation based on traditional friendship and common values, underscoring the readiness of both sides to ensure the continuity of bilateral relations through new initiatives. The interlocutors noted that cooperation in the spheres of high technologies, innovation and creative education has been added to the traditional, political, trade-economic, scientific-educational and cultural directions of the bilateral agenda.

The important role of the Armenian community in France in bridging the two friendly countries and enriching the agenda were particularly highlighted.

Minister Mnatsakanyan underlined that the Armenian side highly appreciates President Emmanuel Macron’s decree to declare April 24 as a day for the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in France, which is another manifestation of the consistency of France's stance towards restoration of the denial of justice.

Touching upon the new legal framework for relations with the European Union as well as EU member states - the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, the Foreign Minister of Armenia reiterated the commitment and political will of the Government of Armenia to ensure the effective implementation of the agreement. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan highlighted the launch of the visa liberalization dialogue, stressing that this process will give an opportunity to expand people to people contacts and advance the cooperation between Armenia and EU member states.

Touching upon the  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Foreign Minister of Armenia briefed his French counterpart on the details of the meeting held in Moscow the day before, reiterating the principled stance and approaches of Armenia to the process of exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict. Both sides attached importance to the establishment of an environment conducive to peace through the confidence-building steps.