Public TV, Armenia
Oct 25 2007
ARMENIAN PREMIER PRAISES TIES AFTER MEETING FRENCH COUNTERPART
[Presenter] [Armenian Prime Minister] Serzh Sargsyan met French Prime
Minister Francois Fillon and the head of the Alcatel company, Serge
Tchuruk, in Paris today. The famous businessman said that Alcatel has
an intention to expand its operations in Armenia. Details by
telephone from Paris.
[Correspondent, reporting by telephone] The head of the Armenian
government and Serge Tchuruk, the CEO of the Alcatel company, one of
the largest investors in the Armenian economy, discussed the
possibility of expanding business in Armenia. The current potential
of Armenian-French relations, according to the parties, opens
opportunities for wider and more effective cooperation. The Alcatel
heads have said they are ready to invest in other fields of the
Armenian economy. Later in the afternoon, the Armenian prime minister
[Serzh Sargsyan] met his French counterpart. The French government’s
head greeted Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan at the entrance to the
palace. The meeting lasted for about an hour. Armenia is the first
country among the South Caucasus countries whose prime minister is
received by the newly appointed French head of government. The core
of the conversation was furthering friendly relations between Armenia
and France and cooperation in various fields.
[Sargsyan] We believe that French companies could be represented in
Armenia at a wider scale. And not only just industry, hi-tech, but
also banks and insurance companies. We also spoke about
Armenian-French cultural and humanitarian links; we said that it
would be good if there was a big house of Armenian culture in Paris
and that a similar one could be in Yerevan too. We, indeed, spoke
about the possibilities of using French health facilities and medical
services in the Republic of Armenia. I am glad the French prime
minister has good intentions and I am very glad that he accepted my
invitation to visit Armenia and discuss these issues in more details.
[Correspondent] Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan is happy with the
results of the visit. We will be waiting for a visit of the French
prime minister to Armenia.