In October 2022, when the Governor of Syunik went to Lyon on an official visit, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional council of France decided to allocate 300,000 euros to Syunik to overcome the consequences of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. As a result of the cooperation that started last year, on March 29, there was unusual activity in the Tatev monastery complex. Syunik Marz Governor Robert Ghukasyan and French Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes District Council President Laurent Wauquiez signed a cooperation agreement. Robert Ghukasyan mentioned.
“On the way, we talked with Mr. Wauquiez, and we both are sure this cooperation will start a new period of friendship, which has a great chance of becoming historical.” Access to health care and economic development, particularly in agriculture, in the villages: construction of an irrigation system, professional education of young people, promotion of tourism, and deepening French language learning. These are the main areas of cooperation, and the President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional council, in addition to the mentioned ones, also emphasizes security cooperation. He says, “The destinies of the Auvergne-Rhone-Aleps region and Syunik region are already joint.”
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“This means that whoever attacks Syunik attacks Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes; whoever attacks Syunik will meet the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region on the way,” declared Laurent Wauquiez in Tatev. Mr. Wauquiez is convinced that the struggle for the integrity of Armenia will be decided in Syunik because the people of Syunik have always carried the spirit of Armenian resistance. He is also from the mountainous region and is sensitive to individuals like Davit Bek or Garegin Nzhdeh. “Syunik has never fallen. For Armenia to succeed, Syunik must develop and be strong. For this purpose, this region should be strengthened through joint programs and cooperation. You are a small piece of politics that resists barbarism,” he said.
Like other programs, Laurent Wauquiez does not want the signed cooperation agreement to be limited only to mutual visits and conducting research. “We want to take practical steps as soon as possible to support the residents of Syunik so that the residents feel the changes as well. We have already prepared the money needed to start the work,” said Mr. Wauquiez . The French official is convinced that being economically developed will help to fight against external aggression.
“On the road, we saw the Azerbaijani flags hundreds of meters away from the settlements. Here we have something to do; we have to make it heard that we are dealing with the violation of the sovereign rights of a person and the state,” said Laurent Wauquiez.
The members of the French delegation also visited health and educational institutions operating in French-Armenian cooperation.
Armen DAVTYAN
