The President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan hosted a state dinner in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron at the Presidential Palace this evening.

A ceremony of presenting state awards took place before the state dinner. By the decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia, for his significant personal contribution to the strengthening and development of traditional friendly relations between the Republic of Armenia and the French Republic, and the expansion and deepening of cooperation between the two countries, President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron was awarded the Order of Glory. By the decision of the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan were awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. This award is the highest order of the Legion of Honor established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802.

According to the protocol, the leaders of the two countries exchanged toasts and touched upon Armenian-French relations and the prospects for their development.

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Toast of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan at the State Dinner in Honor of the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron

Honorable President of the French Republic,
Honorable President of the Republic of Armenia,
Distinguished members of the delegation of the President of France on the state visit,
Distinguished representatives of the state authorities of the Republic of Armenia,

Today, a very important and great event is taking place for us. We are dealing with a situation where the President of a country that is a traditional and loyal friend of our country, including a personal friend for me, and today's event has a double significance. I have had many occasions to say what a great contribution President Macron has made to the current level of France-Armenia relations, which we will record with the adoption of the Armenia-France strategic partnership document as an important result of President Macron's state visit.

But I also want to emphasize that the milestone in which we are today and which today enjoys the support of the people of the Republic of Armenia and which is obviously the right and development path for the Republic of Armenia, when the Republic of Armenia has finally overcome the survival agenda and entered the logic of the development agenda. Today, we are building a new country with a new logic, a new ideology, a new architecture based on the ideology of the Real Armenia, based on our best traditions and values, which, by the way, I think became obvious and visible today during the opening ceremony of the European Political Community summit, where our history, our value system were emphasized and were at the core of everything.

But I want us all to face a situation where President Macron's role in our current milestone is pivotal. The architecture of our reality and regional strategy today was essentially shaped during the quadrilateral meeting in Prague on October 6, 2022. You know, those people who were not present in that meeting room, with all due respect, I apologize, but I cannot say that they fully truly and deeply know President Macron, because what I saw that day, such conviction, such devotion, such principledness, such consistency, such conviction, such steadfastness, such determination that history must be made, I have not read in any book. If someone had told me about the events of that day, I would not have believed it. I had the opportunity to tell President Macron yesterday that even now, when I look back on all that, I have difficulty believing everything I saw with my own eyes, everything I heard in person. There are people in the hall today who were also present, and they will testify to all that. This was a pillar on which our reality today, today's peace, and today's perspective are built, which we love more and more every day.

It is obvious that in the person of President Macron we are dealing with a statesman of the French Republic, but that meeting and the events of that day make it clear and unequivocal to me that Emmanuel Macron is also a statesman of the Republic of Armenia. The medal that was awarded to President Macron today, and if there is courtesy in that decision, it only makes up a small percentage of the essence of that decision. In fact, the Republic of Armenia expresses its appreciation with that highest award for the landmark service that President Macron has rendered to the Republic of Armenia, to the statehood, security, sovereignty and independence of Armenia.

Before that, before October 6, 2022, and after October 6, 2022, when it seemed that the Republic of Armenia no longer had any hope and support, and there was no force and individual who could hold our hand, we felt and touched President Macron's hand in the most difficult moment, and he held our hand tightly, we held his hand tightly. And today our numerous successes, starting with army building, continuing with our foreign relations, our democratic achievements, economic successes, some of which, by the way, will also be recorded in the results of President Macron's state visit, are an expression of his personal contribution, precisely the expression of his personal contribution. Having held the position of Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia for eight years, I do not remember a single case when I shared any concerns or questions related to the state interests of the Republic of Armenia with President Macron and did not receive his response, his answer, in the fastest, most objective and concrete way possible, which was expressed in concrete, tangible, verifiable, visible decisions and steps.

Honorable President of the Republic of Armenia,
Dear Guests,

I propose that we raise a glass to Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, statesman of the French Republic and the Republic of Armenia, great friend, brother of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people.

Mr. President, a toast to you.

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Toast by Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, during the state dinner hosted by the President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan in honor of the President of France

Mr. President
Mr. Prime Minister,
President of the National Assembly,
Ladies and Gentlemen Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen Deputies,
Ladies and Gentlemen Ambassadors,
Ladies and Gentlemen Advisors,
Dear friends,

Thank you. First of all, thank you for the words you just said, Mr. Prime Minister, dear Nikol. They touched me deeply. And what you recalled, those memories, indeed from the fall of 2022, I have not forgotten anything from that night. Just two years had passed since the beginning of the war. The situation was very unstable, and you showed great courage, because you were making a decision for your country.

But I want to say one simple thing. First, France, in my opinion, has done its duty in such moments. It is true that many in Europe or elsewhere wondered why we were supporting Armenia so unconditionally. By the way, to reassure you, I would like to mention that after the meeting that the Prime Minister referred to, I was almost absent from all subsequent meetings until the conflict was resolved with President Aliyev. Now the situation has been resolved and, fortunately, has calmed down. But if we were with you at that time to say all this, it was because it was just. It was just. And throughout history, the struggle waged by your country, your people, has always been a just struggle: against genocide, against invasions, and in those difficult moments, against threats to your territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The idea of peace that we have for ourselves is to be on the side of those just struggles where the international order is defended. Even when it is not in our interests at the moment, even when the approaches based on calculation would dictate turning a blind eye and looking the other way, even when many were calculating the cubic meters of gas or the benefits arising from more profitable contracts with other forces.

And it is France's honor to stand by the countries that have never betrayed themselves, to stand by the people that have never betrayed themselves, and to stand by the just struggle.

Our history comes from a long way away. There are women and men in this hall whose family history is connected to the relations between our two countries: some migrated several generations ago, others during their lifetimes, and some simply discovered Armenia and loved it without having roots. Because there is something between our two countries, our two peoples, our two civilizations that proves this. Why did French intellectuals love Armenia? Many had never set foot here. Because it was unbearable for them to see this country torn apart by one empire into another. Why did the French fleet come here? Not to see or condemn, but to save, because they believed that this was the just struggle that the French people had entrusted to them. Why did we accept so many people in those years, and why did many of them later fight for France? And we had the great honor, and you were by our side, to give a worthy place in the Pantheon to Missak Manouchian and Mélinée, who embody what Armenians have given to France.

This is always the same story. When the struggle is fair, we are there, next to each other. When it comes to us, to the universal humanity, to the values that we carry, we are there, next to each other. And we recognize each other.

I consider the awards received today a great honor and I want to simply say that they are an important milestone in this history that binds us. Because it was you, because it was us. This is the bond between Armenia and France.

That is why the choices you have made - the choice of full independence, peace, stability in this volatile region, choice of Europe and prosperity - are the choices that we support. Because we once again consider them fair, because we consider them good for your country, because we believe that they correspond to the demands of the moment, to the geopolitical and strategic coherence that Armenia and Europe need. And because we want to be part of that path.

The strategic partnership agreement to be signed tomorrow is the result of our joint defense efforts in recent years, since our relations have never been at this level. It will open new economic pages between our countries, strengthen educational, linguistic and cultural ties. And many who are here will still continue to write that history.

But let me say, Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. President, how much for us what you call the Real Armenia is inseparable from the Armenia of dreams, because many dream of it every day. You have chosen a peaceful and prosperous Armenia located in Europe. And it is precisely that Armenia, in all its shades, the Armenia that carries our common history, which we love and fully accept. Because never forget that on the other side of Europe, at the ocean, there are people who love your country and your people and always look at it as a younger sister, who has given us so much and who we will always be by your side. We extend our hands to each other. This is the European future you have chosen.

So let me thank you tonight for the courage you have shown in recent years to lead your country in this region as a country of peace and responsibility. It takes great courage and audacity to desire peace when you are under attack. And as a country that has chosen Europe, now it is Europe's turn to show that it lives up to that choice.

Let me raise a glass to your country, to our centuries-old friendship, and to you, Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, and to the friendship that unites us.