French Defense Minister Says Selling Defensive Weapons to Armenia is on the Agenda

PARIS — French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu has said he will be in contact with Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan to finalize operational and concrete measures, French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies informs.

“I will be in contact next week with the Armenian Minister of Defense to finalize operational and concrete measures. France stands by Armenia,” Minister Lecornu said during the discussions of the 2024 defense budget at the Senate.

“The head of state (President Emmanuel Macron-ed.) has clearly defined that our agenda is the sale of defensive weapons, because our discussions with Armenia are about that. I will not say more about what weapons we are talking about to avoid pressure, so that all this can be done, but some weapons can be highly defensive and primarily serve to protect lives and ensure the security of Armenia,” Lecornu said.

Speaking alongside Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan earlier this month, French FM Catherine Colonna said “Paris has agreed to sign contracts on delivery of military equipment to Armenia.”

“France has given its agreement to the conclusion of future contracts with Armenia which will allow the delivery of military equipment to Armenia so that it can ensure its defense,” she told reporters after talks with Ararat Mirzoyan.

France’s top diplomat declined to provide any details.

“I can’t give many details. If I have to go a little further, know that there are things that were already agreed between Armenia and France and that are in progress,” Colonna said.