An international forum entitled “Pro Artsakh Forum: Cooperation for Justice and Peace” will kick off in Stepanakert, the Artsakh capital, on Friday. The event is expected to bring together representatives of parliamentary groups and circles of friendship with Artsakh from different countries, including the delegation of France.
Vice-President of Artsakh-France Friendship Circle, Mayor of Bourg-lès-Valence commune of France Marlène Mourier addressed a letter to President Emmanuel Macron urging him to commit France to the path of international recognition of Artsakh.
“Ahead of my departure, I simply urge the French president to commit France to the path of international recognition of the Artsakh Republic. And despite facing threats from Azerbaijan's, I confirm my trip to Artsakh to Emmanuel Macron in accordance with my commitments to Artsakh and the values I hold which unite France and Armenia, which we cannot betray,” reads the letter posted on Facebook.
The French mayor unveiled her plans to address the Artsakh parliament in presence of the country’s President Bako Sahakyan.
“I will speak to remind you of the strong ties that Bourg-lès-Valence and Shushi have had for five years. In October 2014, a Friendship Charter was signed with my colleague Artsvik Sargsyan to ratify the values of peace and humanity shared by both nations. Friendship cannot be undone, it lives on,” she wrote.
The French courts have canceled the friendship charters between French and Artsakh cities over Azerbaijan's protests.