On October 5, President of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan received the delegation headed by the Chairman of the regional council of the French Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur, member of the French Parliament Mr. Michel Vauzelle.
Greeting the guest the President of the National Assembly expressed his confidence that the visit of the delegation of Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur regional council will contribute to the development of the Armenian-French relations. Mr. Abrahamyan characterized the relations excellent and highly assessed the direct and decentralized cooperation between the provinces and regions, as well as numerous communities of the two countries. In that context, he expressed his satisfaction on the cooperation launched between the French Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur region and Armenian Lori province.

The President of the Armenian Parliament also expressed gratitude to Mr. Vauzelle for his principle position in the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide and his personal contribution into the process. Mr. Abrahamyan underscored the 12 December 2008 unanimous decision of Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur regional council, according to which, the council applied to the French Government and the Senate proposing to include immediately the draft law on setting criminal punishment towards the deniers of the Armenian Genocide in the agenda.

Afterwards RA NA President Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan presented the approaches of Armenia in regulation of Artsakh issue as well as the establishment of relations with Turkey without preconditions answering to his guests’ numerous questions.

Ambassador of the Republic of France to Armenia Mr. Serge Smessow also took part in the meeting.