The delegation led by RA President of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan is taking part in the works of 35th session of the Parliamentary Assembly of Francophonie (APF) held in Paris.
On July 3 and July 4 RA National Assembly delegation conducted non-official consultations and meetings with the delegations of APF member states.
On July 3 RA National Assembly took part in reception organized in honor of APF session participants by Mayor of Paris Mr. Bernard Delanoe and on July 4 by Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Bernard Kouchner. On July 4 APF working session also took place, during which agenda issues of 35th session and the draft laws to be adopted during the plenary session by APF were discussed.
The first plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of Francophonie was summoned in the morning of July 5. Nearly 50 delegations arrived in Paris to take part in the works of the session 15 of which were headed by the Speakers of the Parliament.
In the afternoon of July 5 the APF 35th session decided to grant the NA with a status of associated member of the organization. In that respect head of the Armenian delegation in the APF Mr. Armen Rustamyan made a speech during the session. He expressed gratitude to all those who made efforts to ensure the Armenian Parliament become an associated member of Parliamentary Assembly of Francophonie, which completely corresponds to Armenia’s wishes and aspirations.
“After granting Armenia with a status of associated member of the international organization, the presentation of application by the Armenian Parliament for getting the same status is not by chance. First of all, it is based on firm ties developed between Armenia and France in the course of time. It is also based on the common values adopted by Parliamentary Assembly: democracy, legal state, human rights, and is conditioned by our devotion to the cultural and linguistic variety. And finally it is based on feeling of belonging to French speaking family, on the solidarity uniting the family members. Reaching a status of associated member for RA National Assembly becomes of great importance. Armenian parliamentarians will become spreaders of radical values in Armenian society, and at the same time the bearer of Armenians people’s aspirations, desires for living in peace and security by the united and equal development of all regions of the earth, by honouring the human rights, democracy and natural cultural identities in the world." According to Mr. Rustamyan, since getting the status of associated member in Quebec (Canada) Summit Armenian authorities have been carried out a series of initiatives and events which witnesses their will to develop Francophonie in Armenia, particularly a governmental decision was adopted, according to which, the teaching of the third living language will be included in the secondary schools, the French speaking bilingual sections have been emphasized. The memorandum was signed with Francophonie international organization to improve Armenian officials’ knowledge of French language.
In the evening of July 5 RA NA delegation took part in the official dinner in the Senate of France during which RA President of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan had a working talk with President of the Senate of France Mr. Gérard Larcher.
On July 6 APF 35th session continued its works. On the same day President of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan met with President of the National Assembly of France Mr. Bernard Accoyer.
During the meeting the interlocutors highly assessed the level of the Armenian-French bilateral relations and qualified them as deep, warm and friendly. They especially pointed out the role of the French-Armenian community in the development of bilateral cooperation.
President of the National Assembly of France congratulated his Armenian colleague on RA NA involvement in APF. In that context the interlocutors agreed that it was important to continue encouraging the interest existing towards French language and culture.
During the meeting the sides have also discussed issues connected with the establishment of peace in the South Caucasus, settlement of Artsakh issue, regulation of the Armenian-Turkish relations and a number of issues connected with regional stability.
In the evening of July 6 in the InterContinental PARIS-LE GRAND Hotel the meeting of President of National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan with the representatives of the French-Armenian community will take place.