YEREVAN — “Armenia is confidently moving toward Europe, emphasizing that it is a full-fledged member of the European family.”
French President Emmanuel Macron made the statement during a joint press conference following a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
“Armenia has decisively chosen the path of peace and prosperity and has strengthened its democracy despite numerous challenges. Armenia is decisively moving toward Europe and has always been a full member of the European family. This progress in the sphere of European policy has become especially evident to me over the past two days,” Macron said.
The French president noted that relations between France and Armenia are rooted in historical ties and brotherhood and are now entering a new phase.
“The friendship between France and Armenia has been shaped by a shared history and unwavering brotherhood, and these relations are now experiencing a new turning point. Since my last visit in 2018, Armenia has come a long way, overcoming the consequences of war and transitioning toward peace and development. Armenia went through war, then established peace, and afterward moved toward prosperity,” Macron stated, recalling that Armenia’s economy has recorded an average annual growth rate of approximately 6 percent in recent years.
Macron emphasized that the international events held in Yerevan in recent days demonstrate Armenia’s European direction.
The French president also stressed the importance of deepening cooperation between Armenia and the European Union, highlighting the need to expand investments, infrastructure projects, and economic ties.
According to Macron, European programs are expected to increase investments, deepen cooperation in the defense sector, and advance the visa liberalization process. He added that Armenian-French relations have significantly developed in recent years, encompassing numerous areas of cooperation.
