‘Artsakh Will One Day be Recognized,’ Says French Lawmaker

STEPANAKERT—Artsakh will one day garner international recognition, said French lawmaker and chairman of the France Artsakh Friendship Group Francois Rochebloine, who was visiting the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic along with two of his parliamentary colleagues Tuesday.

Rochebloine, who is a member of the France’s center-right party loyal to former President Nicolas Sarkozy said the first step in advancing cooperation was the creation of the France-Artsakh Friedship group, adding that the priority at the moment is to preserve the peace and to ensure that achievements within the peace process are not hindered.

Rochebloine, a member of the French lower house is being accompanied to Artsakh by Senators Henri de Raincourt and Bernard Saugey who held meetings with Karabakh’s President Bako Sahakian and Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan.

Rochebloine observed that non-recognition of Artsakh has not slowed the development and work of state bodies, saying that youth in Artsakh will provide a “bright future” for the country.

On the last day of their visit, the legislators were accompanied by Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Parliament Speaker Ashot Ghulian on a visit to the Stepanakert Memorial where they laid wreaths at the tomb of Artsakh’s first president Arthur Mkrtchyan and French political figure Henri Sabi, who is buried in Artsakh.

After the Memorial the French parliamentarians went to Soushi, where they visited the Museum of Fine Arts. At a special ceremony there, Ghulyan awarded the French visitors with a special medal dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Artsakh’s Liberation Struggle.

While in Shoushi, the French leaders visited the St. Ghazanchetsots Church and other sites.

Back in Stepanakert, the members of the France-Artsakh Friendship Group met with the representatives of the youth organizations in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and members of the French Club in Stepanakert.