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Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian on Tuesday hailed “effective and open” talks with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian at a joint news conference in Paris.

The minister said they exchanged views on the solution of the humanitarian issues that emerged after the war in Artsakh, the further course of the peace process, steps towards regional stability and security, as well as the protection of the centuries-old Armenian cultural heritage under the control of Azerbaijani troops, the Foreign Ministry of Armenia reported. 

“On behalf of the Republic of Armenia, I expressed my deep gratitude to my French counterpart for the bold, at the same time, impartial stance expressed by France from the very beginning of the war. The statements of President Emanuel Macron, where the latter clearly pointed to the aggressor, referred to Turkey's extremely harmful and dangerous involvement in the war, as well as the transfer of jihadist terrorists to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, were extremely important for us,” the Armenian diplomat said.

Aivazian expressed special thanks to Le Drian for his efforts to assist Armenia both during the war and after the ceasefire, highlighting the humanitarian assistance provided to Armenia by France.

“At the meeting with my French counterpart, we spoke in detail about the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I voiced Armenia's concerns, including over the issues of safe and dignified return of the Armenians of Artsakh to their homes, the immediate exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) and return of bodies,” he said.

The minister strongly condemned the inhumane treatment of Armenian prisoners of war and captured civilians by Azerbaijani servicemen, stressing these cases are not only not condemned by the Azerbaijani leadership, but also receive public support.

“Numerous Armenian medieval cultural and religious monuments in the Azerbaijani-occupied territories of Artsakh, which the Azerbaijani side is either trying to destroy, desecrate or change their identity, are also being targeted by these manifestations of Armenophobia. We exchanged views on the preservation of these religious and cultural monuments through international organizations.

“I briefed my colleague on Armenia's position on the further course of negotiations. I stressed the importance of recognizing the status of Artsakh based on the exercise of the right of the Artsakh people to self-determination.

“We also reflected on the further prospects of deepening the close Armenian-French political dialogue and cooperation programs,” Aivazian said.

The Armenian foreign minister invited his French counterpart to Yerevan to continue the effective Armenian-French dialogue on the agenda issues.