As part of his working visit to France, the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Zareh Sinanyan, met on May 23 in Montpellier with Michaël Delafosse, President of the Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole and Mayor of Montpellier.
During the meeting, both sides warmly greeted each other and emphasized the strong Armenian-French relations, which are rooted in centuries-old friendship and shared values.
Discussions focused on cooperation between Armenia and Montpellier in the fields of economy, high technology, healthcare, education, and culture.
“Montpellier is home to some of the most successful organizations in France in the fields of cybersecurity, advanced technologies, and digitalization. We see great potential for cooperation with the Republic of Armenia in these areas,” noted the Mayor.
In the context of deepening relations between Montpellier and Armenia, Michaël Delafosse also highlighted the important role of the Montpellier Bar Association and its affiliated Human Rights Institute, which includes among its members Armenian lawyers Naira Zoroyan and Gohar Galstyan—the latter serving as a Diaspora Youth Ambassador.
The High Commissioner expressed his gratitude to the Mayor for the warm welcome, the close cooperation with the local Armenian community, and his efforts toward strengthening bilateral ties with Armenia.
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“Relations with France are of exceptional importance for Armenia. France is a key ally of the Republic of Armenia, and I’m pleased to note that the strong relations between our countries and peoples continue to grow. These ties are based on shared values and democracy—principles that are currently under threat across the globe,” noted Zareh Sinanyan, reaffirming his commitment to supporting the establishment and successful implementation of cooperation in the aforementioned areas.
Following the meeting with the Mayor, a working lunch was held with a delegation led by Pierre Lafont, President of the Montpellier Bar Association, and Amine Faraj, President of the Bar’s affiliated Human Rights Institute, during which discussions on cooperation continued in an expanded format.
A visit to Armenia by a delegation from the Montpellier Municipality, the Bar Association, and the Human Rights Institute is planned for 2026 to discuss potential areas of collaboration between Armenia and Montpellier in various economic sectors with relevant Armenian government agencies.
On the same day, the High Commissioner visited the Armenian House of Montpellier and met with representatives of the local Armenian community.
Zareh Sinanyan presented the programs and upcoming initiatives implemented by the Office and answered questions from the attendees.
The meeting was also attended by philologist, historian, Doctor of Sciences, and Professor Jirair Dédéyan, who has been teaching at Paul Valéry University of Montpellier since 1969 and is a member of the Montpellier Academy of Sciences and Literature. Professor Dédéyan has made a significant contribution to the life of the Armenian community in Montpellier, as well as to promoting Armenian cultural preservation initiatives in cooperation with local authorities.
Diaspora High Commissioner’s Office
