YEREVAN. – The year 2016 was quite eventful in terms of the development of Armenian-French relations, French Ambassador Jean-François Charpentier stated at a press conference on Tuesday.

He recalled that several ministerial visits were conducted during the year past, the mayor of Paris visited Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan, and joint meetings were held with respect to decentralized cooperation.

There is progress in economic relations, too. As case in point, the ambassador noted the water supply contract that was signed with the French Veolia company. In addition, two loan agreements were signed last year; one of them was for the construction of a reservoir in Vedi town, and the other was a budgetary loan agreement.

Armenian-French relations are developing in the cultural and educational domains as well.

In Charpentier’s words, a $20mn assistance was provided to Armenia in the year past, and France is in third place—after the US and Germany—in this respect.

“This shows that the targeted assistance to Armenia has increased by five times,” added the ambassador.

The diplomat noted, however, that the year 2017 has started quietly in this regard.

“[But] we have a large number of projects,” he assured. 

Jean-François Charpentier also recalled that, at the invitation of French President François Hollande, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will pay a visit to Paris, on March 8.