Yerevan expands cooperation with French rescuers

PanARMENIAN.Net - Rescue Service Director Aram Ghazaryan and Bernard Jeanne, president of the French non-governmental organization ASPEB, signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the fields of emergency prevention, disaster response and disaster risk management.

Ghazaryan highly praised the effective cooperation established between Armenia and France in the areas of emergency response and disaster risk management.

Referring to sectoral reforms, he expressed confidence that France’s civil protection experience could significantly contribute to the development of the Rescue Service’s capabilities.

Speaking about jointly implemented programs, the Rescue Service director highlighted the “Disaster Management” course, the “HOPE-2023” field exercise, as well as training sessions organized after the 2024 floods on crisis management and response challenges.

The training of 79 volunteer firefighter-rescuers with the participation of French instructors within the framework of the “VOLFIRE” program was also emphasized.

Referring to the history of Armenian-French cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Decottignies noted that the foundations of cooperation between the two countries in the field of emergencies were laid during the 1988 Spitak earthquake, when about 500 French rescuers arrived in Armenia to participate in search-and-rescue operations. According to him, that interaction later evolved into stable and effective partnership.