In the exclusive interview with “Aravot”, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia, Jean-Francois Charpentier, notes, “It is worth being vigilant in this region.”
– Mr. Ambassador, what are the priorities in the relationship between Armenia and France, as well as the political and economic programs?
– Armenia has an economic development potential to attract French companies. French-Armenian trade relations are still extremely modest, especially when they are compared with our excellent political dialogue. I am glad that the President of Armenia shares this opinion and recently has given instructions to his administration to change this situation. France has the best proved itself in terms of the investments ranking the second in Armenia. As you know, under the European twinning program, the “Business France” agency is working with the Ministry of Economy and the Development Fund of Armenia towards strengthening the foreign investors’ interest to Armenia. Armenia must be concerned not only to attract new foreign companies but first of all also to work that already approved and contented companies have necessary conditions to stay longer. It is important to solve all the problems, which the latter may deal with locally. The success of these investments will serve a positive signal for other investors. The presence of France is highlighted, especially in the water supply sector. For more than one decade, the water supply system in Armenia has been assumed by two French companies: “Veolia” in Yerevan and “Saur” in more than 400 communities. In satisfaction of the users, these enterprises making significant investments are interested in continuing their activities and intend to participate in the tender. I wish them success equivalent to their technical capabilities. The French companies are also interested in urban infrastructure and the complementary units, especially in the transport sector. They are closely watching the tenders in this field. In this regard, on March 15, the French Embassy jointly with the Ministry of Urban Development organized an economic conference on “Reinvent the city for living well together”. In addition, France wants to support the key sectors of Armenia’s sustainable development: agriculture, health care and tourism. Recently, the French Development Agency signed an agreement with the Government of Armenia worth of 75 million to finance the construction of Vedi reservoir. It will enable to the best organize the irrigation of agricultural land in the Ararat Valley. In this sphere, since the beginning of 2014, the significant development of the bipartite cooperation was supplemented by an administrative agreement signed between the Ministries of Agriculture of Armenia and France under the visit of French President Hollande in May 2014. The goal is to include the bipartite activities in European and multilateral frameworks and to ensure mutual complementarity. The targeted theme is the institutional level, agricultural consulting, viticulture, dairy and protected geographical notes.
– On December 19, Bern hosted the long-awaited Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs particularly expressed concern about the victims by the use of heavy weapons and stated that the presidents have expressed their support to the co-chairs in reducing the risks of violence in the line of contact and on Armenian-Azerbaijani border, including in the task for elaborating recommendations aimed at the use of investigation mechanism. However, Azerbaijan is consistently evading giving a positive response to the recommendations for creating a mechanism for investigations on the border. What steps should be followed, according to you, to this posture by official Baku, the OSCE Minsk Group and generally, by the international community?
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– As a global role-player, France has always paid attention to the situation in the South Caucasus as a strategic crossroads between the East and the West, Russia and the Middle East. Our relationship is long-standing and deep. Human contacts are rich thanks to the Armenian community in France. Armenia is very dear to many French people. The settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in which France particularly is involved as a Minsk Group co-chair, as well as the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations are priorities supported by France. Over the time, the opening of the borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan will contribute to the stability and prosperity in the region. This is the goal that we all need to be consistent with patience and determined, without yielding.
Naturally, the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is not satisfactory. We are sorry that heavy weapons are used and civilians become a target. It will never be enough to repeat that this conflict does not have a military solution. As a Minsk Group co-chair, France is involved in the peaceful settlement of the conflict as it was proven by the summit of the presidents organized in Paris in autumn 2014. It is necessary for the parties to maintain the ceasefire regime and continue the dialogue as much as possible. The approval of the investigation mechanisms for the incidents on the contact line proposed by the co-chairs would be the best way to ease the tension. It will also be worth simultaneously creating conditions for the dialogue. The mediators are making regular proposals on this. The parties need to show a political will to reach concession based on three fundamental principles of Madrid.
– The Communist MPs of Russia’s State Duma applied to the authorities to annul the Moscow Treaty signed with Turkey on March 16, 1921. Interestingly, there were people in Armenia who defended this proposal. Turkey seems to make a response move to the move of the RF State Duma MPs. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu noted, “There are three countries whose territorial integrity has been violated by the Russian Federation. These are Georgia, Ukraine and Syria. The territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is now under threat over Armenia, which enjoys support from the Russian Federation.” Officially, Ankara for the first time identified Russia as a threat to territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. What do you think, will this not complicate the situation in Karabakh conflict settlement?
– France is concerned about the intensification of the tensions in the region. We have applied to Russia and Turkey with a call to ease the relations. It is worth to be vigilant in this region to avoid adding new tensions to already existing problems. In this regard, I welcome the restraint policy shown by the Armenian authorities. As for the direct impact on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, at this point, I do not see anything like it.
– On January 16, The Day of Launching, is a “historic” day for Iran, all the UN Security Council sanctions and some of the EU and the US imposed sanctions were lifted. The RA authorities, the business community, and experts speak in favor of the Armenian-Iranian economic, political and military deepening ties. What is the posture of the French Government regarding this in connection with opportunities to expand the Armenia-Iran cooperation on energy sector?
– The lifting of sanctions against Iran is an excellent news for Armenia. From the economic perspective, this provides favorable opportunities for Armenia, as well as for France. As a transit country, Armenia has good triumph card between Iran, western and EaEU member countries. Therefore, it is important to develop the communication infrastructure between the two countries. From the mid-term perspective, the cooperation in the energy sector has a great potential. Indeed, the diversification of economic partners stems from the interests of Armenia. All that is aimed at the strengthening of regional integration, be it a political system, trade or cooperation, is on the right track.
– Russia is Armenia’s strategic ally. How does the French Government assess Russia’s actions in our region? Will Armenian-Russian relations, Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union not prevent the establishment of effective co-relations between Armenia and the EU? What is the significance of the new Armenia-EU legal document, which is under negotiation?
– Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union did not allow to sign the negotiated Association Agreement with the European Union. This is Armenia’s sovereign decision which we respect. Since after the announcement of this decision, France acted in favor of a resumption of the EU talks with Yerevan. We are happy that the talks on the new Armenia-EU agreement were kicked off in late 2015, and we are happy for their successful process. Ms. Mogherini’s visit confirmed the interest of both sides to possibly conclude an ambitious agreement. It is useful to regularly remind that the EU with 28-member countries is Armenia’s number one trading partner, investor and credit-awarding structure. We want to see this partnership deepening and Armenia continues approaching the European standards in terms of the governance. It is important to continue the reforms initiated for the improvement of business environment, to strengthen the independence and restore the confidence of the citizens to the electoral process. We hope that future electoral reform will consider the observations by OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission as appropriate.
– Mr. Ambassador, what is your attitude to the statements of Armenia’s politicians about showing unreserved and even military assistance to Russia and CSTO in the event of the Russian-Turkish clash?
– We have not reached to this, and I hope that we will never confront with such a situation. I have already mentioned that Armenian authorities have adopted, in my opinion, a restraint policy driven from their interests. France wants to remind all the parties that we have one common enemy – the terrorism. Russia, Turkey, France and many other countries are in the target of DAISH and its followers. It is a priority not to allow the jihadist terrorism to cause harm in Syria, Iraq, Libya and around the world.
EMMA GABRIELYAN, “Aravot” daily
