The mayors of Yerevan and Marseille (Tigran Avinyan, Benoît Payan) met today in the Armenian capital and signed a declaration on the establishment of fraternal ties.

“This step formulates our joint goals and strengthens our partnership of more than thirty years, based on mutual respect, historical memory and a common vision for development. Our cities face the same challenges. Both in Yerevan and in Marseille, we strive to build an effective, cohesive and people-centered urban environment. I am confident that the declaration being signed will become the basis for a program that will eliminate formality and become a platform for practical results and mutually beneficial projects,” Avinyan said at the signing ceremony.

Payan noted that Yerevan holds a special place for Marseille and emphasized that the document being signed will provide an opportunity to go further.

“Our cities speak to humanity and humanism; they have intertwined destinies. We will continue to create hand in hand, helping each other, and we must be able to advance our joint solutions that will build our bright future. This declaration should be able to keep Marseille and Yerevan alive. The Armenians who survived the Great Genocide brought with them to France not only their eternal grief, but also their eternal culture. Armenianness is a great opportunity for both France and Marseille,” Payan said.

The signing of a three-year program, which will become a clear working agenda for Yerevan and Marseille, will follow.