France plans to open a consular section in Goris, Armenia. French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot announced this at a press conference in Yerevan on Monday.

The French FM informed that during his meeting preceding the press conference, he and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan had discussed a wide range of matters on the bilateral agenda.

This is Barrot’s first visit to Armenia, and he admits that as soon as he approached Yerevan, he felt a sense of pride that relations between the two countries have never been so intense and reliable.

“We are connected by friendship and history, and we are faithful to it,” the French FM said, noting that this year marks the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and as part of his visit to Armenia, he attend an event dedicated to French Admiral Louis Dartige du Fournet, whose efforts had saved 4,000 Armenian defenders of Musa Dagh in 1915.

“We are committed to the pain and tragedy; that is why France remains close to the forcibly displaced [Armenians] from Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia,” added the French FM.

Separately, Barrot highlighted the importance of decentralized cooperation between Armenia and France, and the holding of the fifth conference in this context, interparliamentary relations, collaboration with the diaspora.

Also, the FM recalled the participation of French companies in the development of the water sector in Armenia and the 100 million euro loan allocated by the French Development Agency for this purpose, the participation of a French company in the issuing of biometric passports for Armenian citizens, and, in general, the development of relations between Yerevan and Paris.