Artsakh President Bako Sahakian, accompanied by a delegation of Artsakh officials, with deputies of the French National Assembly in Paris. May 19, 2015. (Photo: official publication)

PARIS—The Republic of Artsakh’s President Bako Sahakian on Tuesday visited the National Assembly of France and met with a group of its members, as part of an official visit to the country.

President Sahakian, accompanied by a delegation of high level officials, including Foreign Minister Karen Mirzoyan, discussed bilateral relations between Artsakh and France with French lawmakers.

Sahakian also visited the presentation of an exhibition in Paris dedicated to the Armenian Genocide.

In his speech at the event, held at the Paris City Hall, the president highlighted the significance of the initiative, considering it an effective way of raising the world’s awareness of the Genocide and the importance of recognizing and condemning the universal crime against humanity. The president said he finds cultural events such as the exhibit a unique kind of message aimed at preventing new crimes against humanity.

Sahakian also visited Yerevan Park in Paris and laid a wreath on a monument to Komitas.

The President thereafter visited the residence of the French Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Paris and met with its primate, Bishop Vahan Hovhannisian, and members of the diocesan council.

The meeting addressed a range of issues on Artsakh-Diaspora ties and domestic and foreign policy. Sahakian highlighted the role of the church in maintaining the Armenian national identity in the Diaspora and cementing ties with the Motherland.