The French-Armenian relationship “continues to strengthen” and France is “determined to support this friendly country in the defense of its sovereignty and search for peace,” Sejourne said after talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.
“I have come to express the friendship, solidarity and support of France to the government and people of Armenia,” Sejourne told a joint news conference with Mirzoyan. “Despite threats and intimidation attempts, despite Russia’s open hostility, despite all that, Armenia continues its path to freedom and democracy.”
Sejourne listed “defense” among issues that were on the agenda of his talks in Yerevan. He defended France’s deepening military ties with Armenia. Paris is pursuing them “without any intent of escalation,” he said.
Over the past year, Paris and Yerevan have signed a number of defense contracts calling for the sale of French-manufactured radars, artillery and short-range air-defense systems and armored personnel carriers to the Armenian military. In particular, the latter is reportedly due to receive 36 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers by the end of next year.
Azerbaijan condemned the howitzer deal signed in June as “another proof of France’s provocative actions in the South Caucasus” that will create a new regional “hotbed of war.” The deal also prompted criticism from Russia, Armenia’s longtime and increasingly estranged ally.
Sejourne on Monday urged Baku to reciprocate Yerevan’s desire to promptly sign a peace deal that would commit the two South Caucasus nations to recognizing each other’s Soviet borders.
"Armenia wants peace, France wants peace, the international community wants peace, and since Azerbaijan will soon host the COP 29 [summit,] it is incumbent on it to show that it sincerely wants to achieve that peace before COP 29,” he said.
The French minister seemed to back Yerevan’s repeated offers to sign an interim deal that would contain the vast majority of the articles of a draft Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty fully agreed upon by the two sides.
“Again, we are ready to sign as soon as possible the peace agreement, the text that has already been agreed between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” Mirzoyan said at the joint press conference with his French counterpart.
Baku has repeatedly rejected the offers and made the signing of a peace deal conditional on a change of Armenia’s constitution which it says contains territorial claims to Azerbaijan.