STEPANAKERT (Noyan Tapan)–A Nagorno-Karabakh delegation led by President Arkady Ghoukassian traveled to France on Sunday for a one week official visit. The delegation is scheduled to visit a number of cities–including Paris–Lyon and Marseilles.
President Ghoukassian was expected to deliver a report on "The Nagorno Karabakh Republic: a Stabilizing and Independent Factor in the Region" at the French Institute of International Relations on Monday.
Meetings are planned with French officials as well as representatives of French-Armenian communities. The delegation will meet with members of the French-Armenian and French-Caucasus friendship groups of the National Assembly of France; senior Foreign Ministry officials; the Minister of Public Health; as well as at the Paris-based Council of Europe Headquarters–the Senate and the President’s Office.
Ghoukassian is also scheduled to meet with the co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group from France George Vosier and OSCE Minsk Conference co-chairman Jacques Blot.
The Karabakh officials are also expected to pay a visit to the town of Alforville at the invitation of Mayor Rene Ruquet.
The delegation–which includes Health Minister Alexander Petrossian–presidential Chief of Staff Ararat Danielian and the head of the Askeran regional administration–Samvel Hakobian–will hold a series of other meetings–during which issues of social and economic development of Karabakh will be discussed.