Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace. After the welcoming ceremony, the two leaders made statements to the media.

In his speech, Emanuel Macron noted that Armenia is facing a serious security-related crisis, and France is determined to bring peace to the region.

“France is prepared to provide assistance for people. First of all, I mean the prisoners of war, including the release of all prisoners of war and captives. The preservation of historical and cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding areas is also a very important issue. Both Christian and Muslim heritage must be preserved.

As a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, alongside the United States and Russia, France is bound by duty to do its best to achieve a de-escalation and re-establishment of dialogue between the parties.

I would also like to refer to the border incidents between Armenia and Azerbaijan. As I have already stated, all demarcation and delimitation work should be carried out exclusively through negotiations; in no case should force be used.

The Azerbaijani troops must leave Armenia’s sovereign territory. I call on the parties to return to the positions they stood at as of May 11. We will try to help establish a dialogue,” the President of France said.

France will support Armenia in this difficult situation as it has always done.

The agenda of the leaders of both countries includes the opportunities available in specific areas in a bid to help Armenia develop infrastructure etc.

“France is determined to bring peace to the region in this difficult period,” Emmanuel Macron said.