PARIS. – French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian on Wednesday had separate meetings with Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov, who are visiting Paris to attend the 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference.

According to the French foreign ministry, at the end of the bilateral talks, Le Drian opened the joint meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs—and which is called to continue their discussions that began in New York on September 23.

During these meetings, Jean-Yves Le Drian reaffirmed France's desire to contribute to the strengthening of dialogue between the two parties, which can contribute to the establishment of lasting peace in the South Caucasus—and for the benefit of the peoples of the region. Also, he stressed Paris' determination to continue its active participation in the OSCE Minsk Group to achieve this goal, and reaffirmed its readiness to continue political contacts with both sides.