YEREVAN. - France is seriously considering its participation in the construction of the new unit of the Armenian NPP, said Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Pierre Lellouche on Thursday. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan welcomed the possible involvement of France during his meeting with the President of France Nicolas Sarkozy.

The statements of the French side can ensure substantial progress for beginning of construction of the second unit of NPP. Under the agreement signed between Armenia and Russia in 2010, the Russian side pledged to build a "reactor island’’ of the unit, which makes around 20% of investments, estimated at $5 billion. Armenia will invest another 20% and the rest of the funding should be secured through American or European investors.