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HENRY RENAULT: RELATIONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CLOSE AND RELIABLE
Exclusive interview with Ambassador of France to Armenia Henry Renault
Mr. Ambassador, thank you for accepting our interview request. And my
first question. I would like to know your opinion on the post-electoral
developments in Armenia.
The embassy is very attentively following the post-electoral events in
Armenia. We can only express satisfaction that the latter was held in
an atmosphere of peace and dialogue. The point is about a satisfying
change in comparison to the past.
High-level Armenia-France meetings have been quite frequent recently.
This year the visit of the president of France to Armenia is expected.
Is this an indicator of France's growing interest in Armenia?
France's relations with Armenia have always been close and reliable.
High-level meetings certainly boost mutual relations, including the
upcoming visit of the French president to Armenia.
In fact, French-Armenian economic relations are weaker than political
relations. What is needed to be done in Armenia to boost French
investments, the presence of French capital here?
France and Armenia are eager to develop mutual economic relations and
are actively engaged in this task. We aspire to not only increase
French investments in Armenia, but promote Armenian investments in
France too. There is a wide field of maneuvering in terms of trade
relations. We can bring one example: there are very few French
car brands in the Armenian market. While, the presence of Armenian
agricultural products would be beneficial in the French market. The
French-Armenian business club, supported by the embassy, is working
to strengthen economic ties.
To continue, on these days the French retailer Carrefour is the
public focus which is willing to invest in Armenia but the process
is delayed. Do you follow this issue and what can you say about it?
We're attentively following the Carrefour project in Armenia and
we are in constant dialogue with the French distributor and local
authorities. We're happy with the high-level interest of Armenia to
see Carrefour here and we know we can count on their support. We're
convinced after Georgia Carrefour will soon open also in Armenia.
In October 2011 the French president Nicolas Sarkozy visiting Armenia
stated that France is ready to send a working group to Armenia to
discuss the possibility of France's participation in the construction
of a new nuclear power plant. Mr. Ambassador, what can you say about
the relating developments?
The French interest in building the new nuclear power plant in Armenia
is big. Interested parties are studying the plant.
Does France take tangible interest in the energy sector in Armenia
and what is it, also in a regional scope?
France and the European Union fully understand the importance of energy
issues in South Caucasus in terms of reliability and diversification
of their supplies. Besides, works is carried out within the frameworks
of Eastern Partnership to render the energy sector a factor of regional
cooperation, agreement and unity.
Mr. Ambassador, the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide will
be marked in three years. France assisted the Armenians greatly, both
by providing refuge to genocide survivals and later in the process of
international recognition of the genocide. Recently the new French
government has been felt to have softened its attitude to Turkey's
accession to the EU, namely in terms of the highlight on the Armenian
issue. What is the attitude of official Paris?
France is the first country to have formally recognized Armenian
genocide in 2001. Besides, our country keeps expressing in favor
of the international recognition of the Armenian genocide and will
continue this course with the same determination.
The Armenian-Turkish protocols, and the French ministry of foreign
affairs participated in the ceremony of pre-signing of these protocols,
have been frozen for three years. In your opinion, what scenario of
Armenian-Turkish normalization is realistic, and is normalization in
the nearest future realistic?
The settlement of the Armenian-Turkish relations is a key regional
issue for the establishment of relations between both countries and
opening of the border. This, actually, is a primary factor for peace,
cooperation and dialogue. We hope progress in this relation will be
ensures ahead of the 100-th anniversary of genocide.
France is a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group that mediates the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. What is your opinion on the
current process of settlement?
Minsk Group co-chairs keep working to find a negotiated solution to
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The sides to the conflict appreciate
their efforts and both want to continue the mediation in the existing
format. It is up to the sides to agree on concessions based on the
principles of Madrid.
The Armenian side puts forth its own formula of regional integration
and settlement of issues which suggests that an unresolved conflict
should not be an obstacle to integration and integration should be
based on purely economic interests which may subsequently help form
an enabling environment for the settlement of conflicts. Isn't it
worthwhile to start from the other end - economic integration?
The economic cooperation can and should promote political
rapprochement, like the latter boosts economic integration. The EU
path adopted since the beginning is a highlighting example. In turn,
the Eastern Partnership between the EU and six countries of former
Soviet Union involves both political and economic comprehension and
both are called to be strengthened.
16:42 12/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/interview/view/29613
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Exclusive interview with Ambassador of France to Armenia Henry Renault
Mr. Ambassador, thank you for accepting our interview request. And my
first question. I would like to know your opinion on the post-electoral
developments in Armenia.
The embassy is very attentively following the post-electoral events in
Armenia. We can only express satisfaction that the latter was held in
an atmosphere of peace and dialogue. The point is about a satisfying
change in comparison to the past.
High-level Armenia-France meetings have been quite frequent recently.
This year the visit of the president of France to Armenia is expected.
Is this an indicator of France's growing interest in Armenia?
France's relations with Armenia have always been close and reliable.
High-level meetings certainly boost mutual relations, including the
upcoming visit of the French president to Armenia.
In fact, French-Armenian economic relations are weaker than political
relations. What is needed to be done in Armenia to boost French
investments, the presence of French capital here?
France and Armenia are eager to develop mutual economic relations and
are actively engaged in this task. We aspire to not only increase
French investments in Armenia, but promote Armenian investments in
France too. There is a wide field of maneuvering in terms of trade
relations. We can bring one example: there are very few French
car brands in the Armenian market. While, the presence of Armenian
agricultural products would be beneficial in the French market. The
French-Armenian business club, supported by the embassy, is working
to strengthen economic ties.
To continue, on these days the French retailer Carrefour is the
public focus which is willing to invest in Armenia but the process
is delayed. Do you follow this issue and what can you say about it?
We're attentively following the Carrefour project in Armenia and
we are in constant dialogue with the French distributor and local
authorities. We're happy with the high-level interest of Armenia to
see Carrefour here and we know we can count on their support. We're
convinced after Georgia Carrefour will soon open also in Armenia.
In October 2011 the French president Nicolas Sarkozy visiting Armenia
stated that France is ready to send a working group to Armenia to
discuss the possibility of France's participation in the construction
of a new nuclear power plant. Mr. Ambassador, what can you say about
the relating developments?
The French interest in building the new nuclear power plant in Armenia
is big. Interested parties are studying the plant.
Does France take tangible interest in the energy sector in Armenia
and what is it, also in a regional scope?
France and the European Union fully understand the importance of energy
issues in South Caucasus in terms of reliability and diversification
of their supplies. Besides, works is carried out within the frameworks
of Eastern Partnership to render the energy sector a factor of regional
cooperation, agreement and unity.
Mr. Ambassador, the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide will
be marked in three years. France assisted the Armenians greatly, both
by providing refuge to genocide survivals and later in the process of
international recognition of the genocide. Recently the new French
government has been felt to have softened its attitude to Turkey's
accession to the EU, namely in terms of the highlight on the Armenian
issue. What is the attitude of official Paris?
France is the first country to have formally recognized Armenian
genocide in 2001. Besides, our country keeps expressing in favor
of the international recognition of the Armenian genocide and will
continue this course with the same determination.
The Armenian-Turkish protocols, and the French ministry of foreign
affairs participated in the ceremony of pre-signing of these protocols,
have been frozen for three years. In your opinion, what scenario of
Armenian-Turkish normalization is realistic, and is normalization in
the nearest future realistic?
The settlement of the Armenian-Turkish relations is a key regional
issue for the establishment of relations between both countries and
opening of the border. This, actually, is a primary factor for peace,
cooperation and dialogue. We hope progress in this relation will be
ensures ahead of the 100-th anniversary of genocide.
France is a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group that mediates the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict. What is your opinion on the
current process of settlement?
Minsk Group co-chairs keep working to find a negotiated solution to
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The sides to the conflict appreciate
their efforts and both want to continue the mediation in the existing
format. It is up to the sides to agree on concessions based on the
principles of Madrid.
The Armenian side puts forth its own formula of regional integration
and settlement of issues which suggests that an unresolved conflict
should not be an obstacle to integration and integration should be
based on purely economic interests which may subsequently help form
an enabling environment for the settlement of conflicts. Isn't it
worthwhile to start from the other end - economic integration?
The economic cooperation can and should promote political
rapprochement, like the latter boosts economic integration. The EU
path adopted since the beginning is a highlighting example. In turn,
the Eastern Partnership between the EU and six countries of former
Soviet Union involves both political and economic comprehension and
both are called to be strengthened.
16:42 12/04/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/interview/view/29613
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress