France is willing to support the newly established Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia, French ambassador to Yerevan Anne Louyot said at a meeting with Interior Minister Vahe Ghazaryan on Thursday, March 16.

Ghazaryan expressed appreciation for the 28-year cooperation between Armenian and French law enforcement structures and his interest in expanding it. He noted that over the years, with the support of French partners, more than 100 events have been organized for about a thousand policemen.

The Minister highlighted the successful collaboration between the national central bureaus of Interpol of Armenia and France, as well as the close cooperation with the regional representation of the French Office for Immigration and Integration in Armenia.

Ambassador Louyot thanked Minister Ghazaryan for the warm reception, congratulated on his appointment as the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, as well as expressed her willingness to support the Ministry on behalf of France. Louyot emphasized the importance of cooperation in the fields of police, civil protection, and migration, both within bilateral and international organizations.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Arpine Sargsyan, presented the details of the formation of the Ministry and ongoing reforms in the subordinate services. She highlighted the cooperation in the field of migration and citizenship within the framework of the European Union-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), as well as efforts to increase the involvement of women in the services, the certification of employees, and the creation of a water patrol service.

Olivier Lefebvre, Regional Attaché of Homeland Security in the South Caucasus, presented planned cooperation programs, including those related to internal control, police guard, water patrol, drug sales through the Internet, domestic violence, fight against organized crime, migration and citizenship.

The meeting covered other issues aimed at expanding cooperation.