The first day of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s official visit to France wrapped up Tuesday with a meeting with the representatives of the Armenian communities in Europe. 

Also, the President delivered a welcoming remarks, and reflected on Armenia’s accomplishments and still-existing problems and challenges over the course of the 25 years of its independence, the ongoing activities toward ensuring the security of both Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), the Karabakh peace process, the continuing programs toward assisting Syrian Armenians, the priorities of Armenia-Diaspora partnership, and he called on Diaspora Armenians to become more united and exert efforts toward the implementation of national goals.

“If others have oil, [natural] gas, [and] sea, you, dear compatriots, are our ‘sea,’ our ‘access to the outside world,’” Sargsyan said, in particular.
On the same evening, President Serzh Sargsyan met also with Antoine Frérot, the CEO of Veolia Environnement company of France, whose Veolia Djur subsidiary carries out water supply and drainage in 45 urban communities—including capital city Yerevan, and around 360 rural communities in Armenia.
They discussed Veolia’s activities in water management, and its respective services and development projects.