Thread by @301_AD

FRANCE🇫🇷 READY TO CONSIDER ARMENIA'S APPLICATION IN THE FIELD OF DEFENSE - AMBASSADOR LACÔTE TO RFE/RL

The ambassador added that some realities have to be taken into consideration. France and Armenia are not members of the same military alliances.

@JonathanLacote

AMB. LACÔTE: RUSSIA ENSURES THE SECURITY OF THE ARMENIANS OF KARABAKH. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE RUSSIAN FORCES, THERE WOULD BE NO ARMENIANS IN KARABAKH.

Amb. Lacôte: eight months later, we see that the November 9 announcement does not solve all the issues. Some of its provisions, in particular the provision on the release of prisoners of war, are not fully respected.

Amb. Lacôte: the November 9 statement does not state anything about the future status of Karabakh.

Amb. Lacôte: it is necessary to strengthen peace, to start a political process between Armenia and Azerbaijan under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Amb. Lacôte: our role is not to prepare for a future war. Our role is to avoid a new conflict, to accompany it in the political process which will allow the final solution of problematic issues in the region.

https://twitter.com/301_AD/status/1418506666950250497?s=20

Amb. Lacôte on President Macron's visit to Yerevan: it will take place when it will be most useful, and the useful moment is when it will allow to advance the political process in the region - to help Arm. & Az. to make progress on problematic issues...

https://twitter.com/301_AD/status/1415336832972247045?s=20

...Thus, the dates and parameters of the visit will be determined according to that purpose.

Amb. Lacôte: It would be logical for President Macron to talk to all leaders in the region. We have the opportunity to talk to all parties, to ensure the role of mediator, to promote the political process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Amb. Lacôte: France, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is fighting for a world where conflicts are not resolved by force. France believes in a world where people can stay in their territories. And France believes in negotiated solutions to conflicts.

Amb. Lacôte: a number of issues arise from the Karabakh conflict, to which France attaches great importance: non-use of force, protection of cultural heritage, exclusion of the use of certain types of weapons. It's the sum of all these issues that explains France's involvement.

Amb. Lacôte on the refusal of ambassadors of the United States, Russia, France and Great Britain to visit occupied Shushi: there is a reality that the status of Nagorno-Karabakh must be determined through negotiations within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group...

...Until that status is determined, neither the French ambassador to Baku nor the French ambassador to Yerevan can visit Karabakh. In Baku, my colleague does not visit Shushi, just as I do not visit Stepanakert. This is a position used by the three Minsk Group co-chair countries.

Amb. Lacôte: France is fighting so that the UNESCO mission can also visit Karabakh. We believe that international presence in Karabakh will contribute to the well-being of the population, as well as security.

AMB. LACÔTE ON ALIYEV'S USE OF THE TERM "ZANGEZUR CORRIDOR": I THINK THE PHRASE "CORRIDOR" SHOULD BE REMOVED. "CORRIDORS" SUCH AS THE DANZIG CORRIDO HAVE LEFT A VERY BAD MEMORY IN THE HISTORY OF DIPLOMACY.

https://twitter.com/301_AD/status/1377290590325501952?s=20

Amb. Lacôte on Aliyev using the term "Zangezur corridor": we believe we should work on the basis of the trilateral statement of January 11 signed between Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, which envisages the restoration of regional channels of communication.

AMB. LACÔTE ON EU'S €2.6 BILLION ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA: THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT DURING CHARLES MICHEL'S VISIT MARKS THE NEW COMMITMENT OF EUROPE IN THE REGION & TO ARMENIA. FRANCE'S SHARE OF EUROPEAN AID IS 18%. WE ARE FULLY IN FAVOR OF ARMENIA USING IT.

Amb. Lacôte: in the economic sphere, our goal in Armenia is not so much [oriented towards] trade as [it is towards] investments. It is the investments that create added value, they create jobs. From this point of view, France is the second in Armenia after Russia.

AMB. LACÔTE: FOR THE RAILWAY SECTOR, WE ARE THINKING ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT WILL CONNECT YEREVAN, ZVARTNOTS AIRPORT, ETCHMIADZIN AND ARMAVIR BY TRAIN.

Amb. Lacôte: what impressed me [in Armenia] was the ability of Armenians to preserve their values, culture and resist foreign attacks. The Armenian youth experienced a great shock, which the French of their age cannot even imagine.

Amb. Lacôte: regardless of everything, Armenia is confident in its future. It was a great honor for me to represent France in this country during this period.

(Amb. Lacôte will be concluding his mission as ambassador to Armenia this fall)

corridor*