France is always there for Armenia, says parliament speaker

PanARMENIAN.Net - President of the French National Assembly Richard Ferrand has said that France is always there for Armenia and will do everything so that stability and wellbeing are achieved in the country.

"You have always relied on us, you can continue to do so now and in the future as well," Ferrand said at a meeting with acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Paris on Tuesday, June 1.

According to a press release from Pashinyan's office, the French side has again stressed the territorial integrity of Armenia, the immediate repatriation of the prisoners of war still in Azerbaijan's captivity, the preservation of Armenian heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and UNESCO's role in that process.

On the morning of May 12, the armed forces of Azerbaijan violated the border of Armenia in the southern province of Syunik, advancing 3.5 kilometers and surrounding Sev Lake, which is situated on the border between the two countries but is predominantly a part of Armenia. On May 13, the Azerbaijani military committed more border violations against Armenia, advancing near Vardenis (Gegharkunik province) and Sisian (Syunik province). One Armenian serviceman was killed in Azerbaijan’s shooting on May 25, while six others were captured on May 27.

Ferrand revealed that the French National Assembly is currently working on a new resolution on the PoWs, and that the Armenia-France parliamentary friendship group will pay a visit to Yerevan in the near future.