The Armenian National Assembly (NA) delegation, led by NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan, is continuing its working visit to Paris, France.

On Tuesday, the delegation met with President Gérard Larcher of the French Senate.

First, Sahakyan congratulated Larcher for being elected Senate President. Subsequently, he noted that Armenian-French relations have reached a special level. In his words, the high-level political discourse between the two countries has become a solid foundation for close and effective cooperation in numerous domains.

Galust Sahakyan yet again noted that Armenia highly appreciates France’s significant role in the international arena, and especially its engagement in finding a peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Armenian NA leader also spoke about a Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Air Force helicopter’s recent shoot-down by the Azerbaijan Armed Forces. He considered this provocative action to be a gross violation of the ceasefire. He added that the international community should condemn this action which claimed human lives.

In addition, Sahakyan invited the French Senate leader to Armenia to take part in the commemoration events, which will be held in April 2015 and be devoted to the centenary of the Armenian Genocide. He also expressed the hope that the head of the French Senate will see to it that the new bill on the criminalization of genocide denial is introduced and passed.

Gérard Larcher, for his part, assured that the current high level of Armenian-French relations will continue to rise as a result of close interparliamentary cooperation.

Separately, the Armenian parliament chairman also met with France National Assembly deputy, French-Armenian Patrick Devedjian, who is also President of the General Council of the economically well-developed Hauts-de-Seine Department of France.

On the same day, the Armenian National Assembly delegation also paid a visit to the Armenian Apostolic Church of Paris. Subsequently, it visited the Yerevan Park in Paris, where the delegation members placed flowers to the Statue of Komitas (Soghomon Soghomonian), the renowned Armenian priest, composer, choir leader, singer, music ethnologist, music pedagogue, and musicologist.