Nagorno-Karabakh conflict not resolved yet, says France

PanARMENIAN.Net - French ambassador to Jonathan Lacôte has said that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has not been settled yet, and a comprehensive settlement may only come after the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is clarified.

At a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan on Wednesday, July 14, the ambassador said the French side would continue to make consistent efforts towards ensuring stability, resuming the OSCE Minsk Group’s activity and negotiations on the matter.

Pashinyan maintained that Azerbaijan is doing everything to provoke instability in the region, as evidenced by constant statements using aggressive rhetoric at the highest level. The Acting Prime Minister stressed the need for the international community to give an adequate response and take necessary measures.

He also stressed that Armenia highly appreciates France’s efforts as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair in terms of promoting regional stability.

Lacôte also weighed in on the June 20 snap elections, in which Pashinyan's party secured victory, noting that Armenia thus "sent a powerful democratic message and pioneered a new way of cooperation in the international arena, including with France."

The envoy revealed that active work was underway to organize French President Emmanuel Macron’s upcoming visit to Armenia, which he said can add a strong momentum to the development of Armenian-French relations and help implement joint projects in different fields of activity.

The Ambassador stressed that the French side is interested in developing cooperation with Armenia in the fields of energy, high technologies, industry, education, etc.