YEREVAN, JULY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The main interest of France in the South Caucasian region is to see a stable and peaceful region. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France to the Republic of Armenia Serge Smessow mentioned it at the July 13 meeting with journalists. It is not in vain that France is one of the three co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group on the issue of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, and President of France Nicolas Sarkozy directly participated in steps aimed at overcoming the crisis during the days of the 2008 Russian-Georgian crisis. The Ambassador emphasized that France is one of the initiators of the European Neighbourhood Policy program within the framework of the European Union. S. Smessow estimates the statement of Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries Medvedev, Obama and Sarkozy on the issue of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement as encouraging at the highest level to continue the negotiation process to find a reasonable solution for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The President of his country came out against Turkey's membership to the European Union, he said, emphasizing that France is not the only country that has doubts about Turkey's membership. The Ambassador estimates the Armenian-French relations as excellent, splendid: those develop both in political and in economic spheres. The cooperation also develops at the level of the two countries' regions, marzes, cities, communities. The existence of the French University in Armenia is a peculiar expression of that cooperation. The long-standing relations between the two peoples coming still from the Middle Ages furthered the cooperation. He reminded that France is one of the countries that gave shelter to Armenians rescued from the Genocide, there is an Armenian community of about half-million in France. The Ambassador also stated that some receptions will be organized at the Embassy on the occasion of the national holiday of France, the storming of the Bastille which is celebrated on July 14: France has many friends in Armenia and it is impossible to limit themselves to one reception.

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