The delegation of French local government representatives concluded the four-day visit to Armenia, meeting with regional governors, community leaders, and UNDP beneficiaries to explore opportunities for collaboration and support for refugees.

In Armavir region, the delegation was welcomed by Governor Argishti Mekhakyan. The meeting was attended by the French Ambassador to Armenia, H.E. Olivier Decottignies, and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Armenia Konstantin Sokulsky. The Ambassador underscored the importance of cooperation between French and Armenian local authorities, while Konstantin Sokulsky reiterated UNDP’s commitment to supporting refugees and expressed hope that these discussions would serve as a foundation for further collaboration. The delegation also held a separate meeting with Deputy Head of Armavir Community Felix Petrosyan.

In Vagharshapat community, the delegation met with Community Head Diana Gasparyan to discuss the needs and priorities of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh and the challenges they face. The head of the community acknowledged UNDP’s role in facilitating Armenian-French cooperation and implementing various initiatives in the community.

In Ararat region, the delegation met with Governor Sedrak Levonyan and Artashat Mayor Karlen Mkrtchyan, followed by separate meetings with the heads of Masis and Vedi communities. Discussions focused on initiatives aimed at supporting refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh, including those implemented in Masis and Vedi communities.

The delegation visited a social house in Masis, developed through a UNDP initiative with financial support from the Government of France and in partnership with the UNHCR. A previously unused sports school building was repurposed into 18 modern shelter houses, providing accommodation for more than 70 refugees.

In Vedi, the delegation visited the newly renovated Taperakan outpatient clinic, rehabilitated through the UNDP “Sustainable Communities” programme, with generous funding of the Government of Japan. The outdated facility, which previously faced structural and sanitation issues, was transformed into a modern medical center meeting health and safety standards, now serving over 5,000 residents.

The delegation also visited “Sweet House,” a small business run by UNDP beneficiary Meline Khndzrtsyan in a rural settlement. The enterprise specializes in fruit and vegetable processing, producing sweets, dried fruits, jams, honey products, and juices. The delegation was introduced to the agricultural processing equipment provided by UNDP to enhance production capacity.

The visit was organized within the framework of the UNDP “Support to Refugees and Host Communities in Ararat and Armavir Regions” programme, fostering direct engagement between French and Armenian local government representatives to promote sustainable development and humanitarian support in the regions.