Armenia is important for France as part of the domestic political agenda, given the fact that in France there is a very sensitive topic of the Orient and migration, and any politician who in one way or another “flirts” with Christian Armenia and relies on the largest Armenian community in the European Union, always garners certain votes, Russian political scientist Sergey Markedonov told reporters Wednesday in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.

"Besides, there are problems between France and Turkey in the Mediterranean Sea. Turkey does not have a very positive attitude towards France's ambitions in Libya and Syria. But that does not mean that France's interests in Armenia determine internal security.

If they start shooting here [in Armenia], little will change from it in Paris, but something may change in the Russian Caucasus. This is a puzzle for France. If it doesn't like it, it will leave [this region]. But we [i.e. Russia] can't leave here; this is the difference," Markedonov said.

But he admitted that France uses “soft power” better than Russia.

"But those kind words mean nothing real. Many Armenians work in Russia, there are remittances, there is a labor market," concluded Markedonov.