On September 15, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Séjourné, began his official visit to Armenia. Alongside Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, they visited the Vedi reservoir, a project funded by a loan from the French Development Agency and co-financed by the Armenian government. Both ministers reviewed the construction’s progress and highlighted its strategic importance in enhancing Armenia’s resilience.

Mirzoyan remarked on Armenia's growing partnership with France, calling the reservoir project a concrete example of their collaboration. The discussion also touched on the reservoir's potential positive impacts on local economic development, improved water management, increased irrigation efficiency, and benefits to the environment and tourism.

On September 16, the visit continued with an official meeting between the two foreign ministers, culminating in a joint press conference at Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs where a wide range of topics were discussed, including bilateral relations between Armenia and France, Armenia’s partnership with the EU, and regional stability and security.

During a joint press conference, Mirzoyan expressed his appreciation for the strong partnership between Armenia and France, emphasizing the deep-rooted friendship between their peoples. He highlighted key areas of cooperation, notably the Vedi Reservoir project, which is nearing completion and symbolizes the concrete results of their collaboration. He also acknowledged France’s vital support in Armenia’s democratic development and its engagement with the EU, including the recent launch of visa liberalization talks.

Mirzoyan reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to the peace process with Azerbaijan, noting the latest proposals based on previously agreed texts and emphasizing France’s critical role in supporting Armenia’s peace vision. He stressed Armenia’s readiness to sign a peace agreement, reaffirming territorial integrity based on the Alma-Ata Declaration, which defines the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan as they existed during the Soviet Union.

During the joint news conference, Stéphane Séjourné announced that France and Armenia will continue their defense cooperation.

“We will continue defense cooperation,” Séjourné confirmed, emphasizing that Armenia must be able to protect its integrity, territory, and population. He highlighted that defense collaboration between friendly nations is a natural step, underscoring that it is being carried out with respect for sovereignty and without intentions of escalating tensions.

The French FM also expressed support for the ongoing border delimitation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, grounded in the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Additionally, he called on Azerbaijan to show genuine commitment to peace ahead of the COP29 summit in Baku this November.

Stéphane Séjourné reaffirmed France’s unwavering support for Armenia’s democratic journey, despite the challenges and pressure from Russia. He emphasized, “Armenia continues its path towards democracy and freedom, advancing phase by phase. Know that you can always count on us for democratic values.” He assured that France stands firmly with Armenia, stating, “France is always by your side.”

Séjourné also highlighted the strong bipartisan consensus in France on supporting Armenia, noting, “There are very few topics in France that all political directions would agree upon. Armenia is one of these topics.” He explained that this broad political support is why representatives from various political backgrounds are eager to engage with Armenia.

Meeting with Nikol Pashinyan

On the same day, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Stéphane Séjourné. Pashinyan stressed the importance of further developing relations with France, particularly in security and economic fields. "Our strategy is as follows: we want to strengthen our sovereignty, independence, our statehood, and in this path, of course, we highly value the support of France," Pashinyan stated. He also noted France's readiness to support the enhancement of Armenia-EU relations.

Stéphane Séjourné underscored the importance of consistently advancing Armenia-France cooperation in security and economic matters. "France stands by Armenia and will continue its support to the Armenian people; we have also made all efforts to strengthen the relations between our two peoples," Séjourné emphasized.

The discussion covered various aspects of Armenia-France relations, including exchanges on Armenia-EU cooperation. The parties highlighted the significance of initiating dialogue on visa liberalization and the European Peace Facility's support for Armenia. Additionally, they touched upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty discussions and ongoing regional processes.