Question: Mr. Ambassador, some people hold the opinion that, in the South Caucasus, France is an ally or friend of Armenia, the USA of Georgia and Great Britain of Azerbaijan. Is there a core of good sense in this opinion, and why are the French-Armenian relations especially strong?

Answer: The term “ally” you have used also has a military shade of meaning. France is not an ally of any state in the region. As OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair, France intends to remain neutral and impartial.

For centuries France had protected Christians of the East. France provided asylum to the Genocide survivors, who later fully integrated into our society by creating purely human and cultural ties between Armenia and France. France was side by side with Armenia during the hard times. I think Armenia has not forgotten that French rescuers were the first to arrive at the disaster zone after the devastating earthquake in Armenia in December 1988. We will go on strengthening our friendly relations with Armenia, a country close to us irrespective of its geographical location.

Question: Many in France know about Armenia thanks to Charles Aznavour and due to the fact of the Armenian Genocide. Do you think it is enough for Armenian-French friendship? Or are there any other reasons, say, political ones?

Answer: Your conception of things seems somewhat narrow to me. Evidence thereof is the great success of the Year of Armenia in France, which really helped our country to get acquainted with Armenia’s national wealth and history. I have mentioned some of the reasons for our friendship, and I am not referring to them now. I would just like to remind you of a Russian saying, which, I think, is a most accurate designation of international relations: “It’s a small world,” Russians say. I would even say that the world is getting even smaller. Who could have thought that, after gaining independence, Armenia would one day be involved in the European Neighborhood policy elaborated for its neighbors in the Caucasus. I would remind you that France became one of the European countries that started a struggle for involving the Caucasian countries in the European Neighborhood policy. Our concern for stable relations, simultaneously with the expansion of the European Union (EU) in the context of our own values, stirred up interest in Armenia and in the region.

Question: An Armenian-Turkish dialogue is under way now. What should be done for the border to be reopened? As an EU member-state, is France not going to pressure Turkey for progress in this process?

Answer: With due caution about the final result of the process launched in Turkey, I think that a momentous step – the signing of the Armenian-Turkish Protocols — in expected in this process in a few weeks. I think this process is of benefit to both Armenia and Turkey.

In its bilateral, as well as European, relations France issues regular reminders about its assistance to the developing process – we all want the process to properly completed, which implies the reopening of the Armenian-Turkish border.

Question: France is one of the EU member-states that object to Turkey’s admission to the EU. What is the reason? What does Turkey have to do to join the EU? Do the requirements set to Turkey have to stipulate the admission of the Armenian Genocide and the reopening of border with Armenia?

Answer: As a matter of fact France is for Turkey to be with the EU without being an EU member. We are ready to as close cooperation with that country as possible in all the fields, in the interests of both Turkey and EU. Considering the above, France naturally wants Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide and normalize its relations with Armenia.

Question: Armenia is involved in the European Neighborhood program. Can this fact be considered another step to Armenia’s admission to the EU? Do you think it is possible for Armenia to become an EU member some time?

Answer: I have spoken about the neighborhood policy involving Armenia. However, to give an exact answer to your question, I think it should be stressed that the program is not supposed to prepare the participating countries for EU membership. The aim of the program is to bridge a gap between two parts of Europe and, through cooperation, assist the countries in drawing closer to the European Union, which, in turn, contributes to regional stability and economic progress.

As to whether it is possible for Armenia to unite with the EU one day, I think such a question is untimely now.