French Ambassador: Decentralized cooperation between Armenia and  France  is strategically significant

ArmInfo. Decentralized cooperation between Armenia and France has acquired strategic importance, which was due to the dictates of recent years, as stated by the Ambassador of France to Armenia, Olivier Decottignies,  addressing the 5th Armenia-France Decentralized Cooperation Forum in  Goris.

Particularly, he noted that the approach to cooperation between the  communities of Armenia and France has changed.  According to the  diplomat, they are already focused on strategic parameters, in  addition to simply friendly relations and interaction. As an example,  he brought up the recent partnership between the French city of  Marseille and the agricultural border region of Tavush. Decottignies  noted that Marseille aims to contribute to the stability of Tavush.  He called such cooperation a significant strategic decision. 

"This means that they have not been forgotten by the world. That  there are communities far away that care about you," he said.   Decottignies also emphasized that state cooperation is preceded by  community interaction. In this regard, the Ambassador recalled that  Vanadzor and Bagneux became sister cities back in 1968. "And we, as  representatives of the state, are only trying to catch up," the  French diplomat noted.  He also touched upon the peculiarities of  Armenia, recalling that last year a position of coordinator of  cooperation with Armenia was opened in the French Foreign Ministry,  which has no equivalent in other countries. In this vein, the head of  the French diplomatic mission in Armenia clarified that the relations  between Armenia and France  are multi-layered.

"The fact that we have  all come together in Goris means that we,  both  the state, French society, and organizations continue to stand  with you. What we are building together is not just technical  cooperation, not just friendship, but also real levers of impact on  the situation, support for Armenia and act for peace," he concluded.  Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign  Affairs of France David Bertolotti also addressed the forum with a  video message.  Quoting the French President, who stated that their  assistance to Armenia is constant, stable and long-term, it was  emphasized that bilateral relations would mean nothing without the  involvement of communities and civil society. "There is no better  example of friendly collaboration than the  cooperation between our  peoples," he said.

Bertolotti highlighted the importance of creating greater synergy and  structuring common actions. "It is in this spirit that these meetings  were organized, serving as a platform for communication between  partners, and the exchange of experience  to jointly promote  sovereignty and sustainability", he noted. The Secretary General  further stated that the forum would address key topics of  decentralized cooperation to benefit territorial economic  development, including issues related to youth, local  self-government, the role of women and the needs of forcibly  displaced citizens of Nagorno-Karabakh.