The delegation led by the President of the Republic of Artsakh, Araik Harutyunyan, arrived in the Republic of France on a working visit on December 5.

On December 6, the delegation met with the leaders of all the parliamentary groups of the Senate of the Republic of France and the representatives of all the factions of the National Assembly.

Issues related to the settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict, Artsakh-France relations, and regional processes were discussed at the meeting. Special attention was paid to the development of inter-parliamentary ties.

Speaking about Artsakh's interest in developing relations with France, particularly its legislature, the president highly appreciated the consistent efforts of the Senate and the National Assembly to settle the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict.

"The resolutions adopted by the French Senate and the National Assembly regarding Artsakh are a good basis for a comprehensive and permanent settlement of the conflict between Artsakh and Azerbaijan. Respecting the right to self-determination of the people of Artsakh and recognizing the results of the realization of that right is the only way to settle the conflict, which guarantees the proper level of rights and security of the people of Artsakh," stressed Araik Harutyunyan.

Thanking the parliamentarians for adopting the resolutions, the head of the country noted that these decisions are a political message and fully correspond to the political traditions of France, based on the principles of freedom, equality, and fraternity. According to the president, now the most critical task is to make these political messages a reality, to give them real power. In that context, the president expressed hope that the works towards the recognition of the Republic of Artsakh will be completed by the executive power of France, which will allow preventing a new genocide of Armenians in their homeland.

The head of the country also expressed hope that the adoption of resolutions by the two houses of the French Parliament calling for the recognition of the Republic of Artsakh will serve as an example for other countries of the world.

Araik Harutyunyan also presented the post-war situation in Artsakh to the French parliamentarians. In particular, he noted that Artsakh is connected to Armenia and the outside world only by one road, the 5 km wide Lachin Corridor.

"Azerbaijan wants to cut the only and last connection with the outside world, strangling Artsakh. We want the Lachin Corridor to have additional international guarantees to ensure the uninterrupted connection of Artsakh with Armenia and the outside world," the president said.

Artsakh, according to the head of the country, expects the active involvement of France in the implementation of humanitarian programs, the return of captive Armenians, and the preservation of endangered Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

Armenian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France Hasmik Tolmajyan and ARF bureau member, co-chairman of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) Murad Papazyan were also present at the meetings.

Other meetings are also scheduled during the visit.