On October 21, a Declaration of Friendship was signed between Shushi town of the Republic of Artsakh and Saint-Etienne town of France. The signing ceremony took place in the Town Hall of Shushi.
The Declaration was signed by Mayor of Shushi Artsvik Sargsyan and Mayor of Saint-Etienne, member of the France-Artsakh Friendship Circle Gaël Perdriau. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh Masis Mayilian and former Chairman of the France-Artsakh Friendship Circle, former Member of the National Assembly of France Francois Rochebloine were present at the solemn ceremony of signing.
The Declaration, in particular, notes that based on the absolute importance of the freedom and democratic values enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the need to establish stability and peace in the South Caucasus, the parties decide to establish friendly relations between the two cities to implement joint programs in the fields of education, culture, sports and local self-governance, as well as contribute to the exchange of experience and professional skills between the two cities.