ArmInfo. On May 13 Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a telephone conversation with President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic on the French side's initiative.
The two leaders discussed the situation in Syunik Marz following Azeri troops' subversive infiltration into Armenia's sovereign territory and the steps aimed at defusing tensions.
The French President assured of his support to the authorities and the people of Armenia for achieving a peaceful settlement of the issue. Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France's commitment to the territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia and stressed the need for an immediate withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia's sovereign territory.
Nikol Pashinyan thanked the French President for sustained attention to Armenia's concerns, as well as for standing in solidarity with the Armenian people.
Emmanuel Macron emphasized that France stands ready to help Armenia deal with the emerging challenges on its way to development and progress.
"France wants the UN Security Council to find a solution to the tension that has developed in the region to restore regional stability and security," the Elysee Palace said in a statement. At the same time, Macron wrote in his Twitter in Armenian: "The armed forces of Azerbaijan have crossed into the territory of Armenia. They must withdraw immediately. I say again to the Armenian people: France stands with you in solidarity and will continue to do so>.
It should be noted that on May 12, a group of Azerbaijani soldiers consisting of 150-200 people illegally entered the territory of the Syunik region of the Republic of Armenia, and having advanced 3.5 km into the depths of the country, they are trying to gain a foothold at Lake Sevlich. Since May 12, negotiations have been held between the parties, but the issue has not yet been resolved. The Armenian authorities confirmed this fact only on the night of May 13 during a meeting of the Security Council. The military prosecutor's office instructed the military police to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the incident to prepare materials. Meanwhile, on the evening of May 13, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces tried to ensure positional advances in the direction of Sisian and Vardenis. Yesterday at the evening, the acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia informed about the presence of 240-250 Azerbaijani soldiers on the territory of the Republic of Armenia and instructed to hold consultations for the relevant responsible persons to apply for help to the CSTO.