Armenia has chosen the path "towards Europe", French President Emmanuel Macron said during a visit to Yerevan on Monday, as the landlocked post-Soviet state cautiously shifts away from Russia's political orbit.
Armenia has been building ties with Europe for years, amid frustration in the country over Moscow's perceived failure to protect it during conflicts with neighbouring Azerbaijan.
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© France 24
41:49
"For decades, we had become somewhat accustomed to Armenia being, in a way, a satellite of Russia," Macron told members of Armenia's French community in the capital Yerevan.
"Armenia has indeed made the choice... to break free from this constraint and turn towards Europe," he added.
Macron also said France had provided material support for Armenia during conflicts with Azerbaijan.
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© France 24
07:28
"Russia was not there, any more than it is there for Venezuela when there are problems," he said.
France is home to one of the largest Armenian diaspora communities in the world.
The two countries have a history of close diplomatic relations.
Dozens of European leaders including Macron were in Yerevan this week for a summit of the European Political Community, as well as a joint Armenian-EU summit.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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