On 30 November, the National Assembly of the Republic of France unanimously adopted a resolution supporting Armenia and proposing sanctions against Azerbaijan. Today, on 1 December, the French Foreign Ministry in a statement referred to the adopted resolution and noted that the text of the parliamentary initiative is not the official position of the Government and was adopted completely independently, according to the principle of separation of powers, TASS reports.

“The position of the French Government is known and has been expressed many times by the minister, particularly on 29 November of last year, that is: “France continues to call on the parties to move forward in these negotiations to take advantage of the opportunity for peace.”

It was in this spirit that the President of the Republic held the meeting of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Prague, which, in particular, led to the deployment of the EU observation mission on the territory of Armenia,” the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said during a briefing, at the Senate and National Assembly’s comments on Armenia and Azerbaijan responding to the journalists’ question about the government’s position on the two adopted resolutions.

Among other provisions, the resolution of the French National Assembly:

– Calls for the immediate and unconditional release and repatriation of all Armenian prisoners of war;

– Invites the Government to consider the imposition of personal economic sanctions, should the attacks and occupation of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia continue;

– Invites the Government to continue its mediation efforts and to continue to mobilize diplomatically so that a lasting solution can be implemented concerning the security of the Armenian populations of Nagorno-Karabakh, in accordance with resolution No. 520 of the National Assembly aforementioned;

– Invites the Government to increase France’s support for the Republic of Armenia, particularly with regard to humanitarian aid, and to study the strengthening of its defense capabilities;

– Invites stakeholders, the Minsk Group, the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to do their utmost to preserve , in a sustainable way, the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the areas under Azerbaijani control of the Armenian territory and Nagorno-Karabakh;

The resolution was presented on behalf of the majority of the National Assembly, the ruling “Renaissance” group.

The Armenian Ambassador to France and the staff of the Armenian Embassy in France were present at the session of resolution adoption as guests of honor.