Minister of Emergency Situations and French Ambassador to Armenia  discussed cooperation prospects

ArmInfo. Today ES Minister Feliks Tsolakyan hosted H. E.  Mr. Jonathan Lacote, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic in Armenia, the press service of MES reports.

Minister Tsolakyan welcomed the guest, stated the high level of  interstate relations with France and expressed a wish that in line  with it the corresponding structures in the field of emergency of  both countries would tangibly deepen the partnership.

Feliks Tsolakyan highlighted the fact that an agreement on deepening  the Armenian-French relations in the field of emergency was being  prepared and called for a new impetus to those activities.

Speakers highly assessed the Armenian-French cooperation in the field  of emergency and stated that it dated back to the days of Spitak  earthquake.

Reference was made to the issues of the implementation of the joint  projects and study of the French experience in the fields of  psychological service and disaster medicine, training of Armenian  rescuers implemented with the support of the French side.

In the framework of the cooperation with France "Civil Defense  without Limits" organization provided MES with equipment and  technique costing about 250.000 Euros in 2014.

In the framework of the cooperation theoretical and practical  training courses have been held for MES rescuers by the French  specialists. Particularly, the cooperation is close with MES Crisis  Management State Academy; cooperation agreement was signed between  the Academy and Human, Property and Environmental Protection  Association of the French Republic in 2019, aimed at first aid  training for the academic staff of the Academy, preparation and  development of the teaching materials and methods, as well as  exchange of the educational and technical information.

During the talk Minister announced that in the near future tender  would be announced to obtain fire and rescue cars for serving 8 and  more storey buildings and asked the Ambassador to offer the French  organizations to take part in the tender as well.

H. E. Mr. Jonathan Lacote, Ambassador Extraordinary and  Plenipotentiary of the French Republic noted that French community  consisting of 650 people lives in Armenia and the issues of their  lives, health and property have always been under the attention of  the French Embassy in Armenia.  Ambassador Jonathan Lacote  highlighted the joint organization of events aimed at the  preparedness of emergency situations in Armenia and, particularly,  noted the necessity of involving students and academic staff of the  French University in Armenia, the workers of the French Embassy in  them.

The sides put great importance on the development of the capabilities  of disaster resistance and expressed willingness to deepen the  activities being implemented towards this.