Armenia-France decentralized cooperation, which is one of the most dynamic domains of our interstate relations, is on solid institutional foundations. The Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia, Davit Khudatyan, stated this in his remarks at the 5th Armenia-France Decentralized Cooperation Forum Monday in Goris city of Armenia’s Syunik Province.

“The Armenian-French Decentralized Cooperation’s fifth forum being organized in Goris today is the best evidence of this. It is noteworthy that even before the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries, Bagneux in the Paris region was already a sister city with Armenia’s Vanadzor city. And now, as a result of our cooperation, there are more than five dozen such cities, urban associations, and communities. The large presence of French local authorities at this forum expresses the friendship of our peoples, the full depth of which has been further emphasized in recent years.

Thanks to regular and high-level dialogue, a comprehensive agenda has been formed between Armenia and France in the political, economic, defense, educational and cultural, healthcare, Francophonie, and other domains.

One of the priorities of the Armenian government is to increase the resilience of Syunik, which is aimed at developing and strengthening both security and economic, educational, healthcare, and other capabilities. France plays a key role among our international partners in this regard, for which I thank all of you,” added Khudatyan.

 According to him, the holding of the 5th Armenia-France Decentralized Cooperation Forum in Syunik is of strategic importance, in particular.

“I assure [you] that we have spared no effort and energy to organize it at the proper level to assist in the implementation of joint programs within the framework of Armenia-France decentralized cooperation. I call on regional and local self-government bodies to actively engage in the substantive discussions of these days, which will enable to outline new programs and expand the existing framework of partnership to bring Armenia-France decentralized cooperation to a qualitatively new level," Khudatyan noted.