A meeting between the President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian and the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron took place at the Elysee Palace. This was reported by the Department of Public Relations of the Office of the President of the Republic of Armenia. During the conversation, the Presidents of Armenia and France discussed the situation in the zone of the Karabakh conflict.
President Sarkissian expressed gratitude to President Macron, noting that Armenia highly appreciates the efforts and position of France, as co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, and of President Macron personally regarding the settlement of the conflict.
President Sarkissian emphasized that the large-scale military attack unleashed against Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan with the support of Turkey continues, targeting Artsakh’s populated areas, the peaceful population and civilian infrastructure, resulting in casualties and wounded among the civilian population. The President of Armenia expressed deep concern regarding the military-political support provided to Azerbaijan by Turkey, stressing that Turkey’s involvement of such magnitude as a third party further aggravates the situation and endangers the stability and security of the region. President Sarkissian stated that a particular threat to the region are the Islamist terrorists brought to Azerbaijan by Turkey and subsequently participating, within the ranks of that country’s army, in military operations against Artsakh, who, it cannot be ruled out, may at any time later appear in other countries, including Europe.
President Macron likewise expressed concern regarding the ongoing military operations and the situation created.
President Sarkissian and President Macron agreed that the peaceful settlement of the conflict has no alternative, and emphasized the necessity of implementing the agreements reached regarding the establishment of a ceasefire.
The Presidents stressed the role of the OSCE Minsk Group in the settlement of the conflict and emphasized the necessity of returning to the negotiating table as soon as possible under the co-chairmanship of the Minsk Group.
The Presidents of Armenia and France also noted with satisfaction that the special Armenian-French relations, built on the foundation of the centuries-old ties and friendship of the two peoples, continue to develop in a spirit of friendship and mutual understanding.
It should be noted that the President of the Republic Armen Sarkissian traveled to Paris from Brussels, where he had meetings with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, and the President of the European Council Charles Michel.
