Friendship Declaration Signed Between Artsakh’s Askeran and French Bouc-Bel-Air

On November 19, within the framework of the visit of Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Narine Aghabalian to France, a Friendship Declaration between the NKR Askeran and French Bouc-Bel-Air cities was signed at the City Hall of Bouc-Bel-Air.

The Declaration welcomes the consistent steps of the people and authorities of Nagorno Karabakh towards the establishment and development of a free and democratic society and considers as unacceptable the isolation of the people of Artsakh. It is aimed at strengthening the friendly relations between the two cities and establishing cooperation in the educational, cultural, and sports spheres.

After the ceremony of signing, the NKR Minister of Culture Narine Aghabalian, Mayor of Bouc-Bel-Air Richard Mallié, NKR Permanent Representative to France Hovhannes Gevorgyan, and Vice-Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Marseilles Samvel Lalayan attended the concert of the Voices of Artsakh group organized with the support of Bouc-Bel-Air City Hall.

Bouc-Bel-Air is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France. It is situated between Marseille, Gardanne and Aix-en-Provence. The old village is located at the summit of a small hill.

Inhabited since very ancient times, its sites witness of Roman-Gallic settlings. Some of these sites date to the 7th century BC. Invasions of the Barbarians took place in the 7th century AD, the probable foundation date of the village. Population 13,500