The situation in the South Caucasus is far from ideal with unsettled conflicts and tensed relations between the neighbors. Besides, the South Caucasus plays the role of an arena for the struggle for leadership between great powers. By PanARMENIAN.Net's request Director of the Caucasus Media Institute (CMI), political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan comments on the current situation in the region.

Year 2006 is announced that of Armenia in France. Both countries are bound with long-standing friendly relations, promoted to a notable extent by the Armenian community, which is one of the largest in Europe. France along with the US and Russia actively participates in settlement of the Karabakh conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group framework. French Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Armenia Henry Cuny told PanARMENIAN.Net about the current state of the Armenian-French relations.