Armenia Opens Embassy in Paris; Prominent Diaspora Leaders Excluded

Armenia officially opened its new embassy building in Paris on April 28, in a ceremony that showed off the growing ties with France but also raised questions about relations with the Armenian diaspora.

The event brought together senior officials from both countries, including Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot. During the ceremony, Mirzoyan raised the Armenian flag in front of the building, while the national anthems of Armenia and France were performed . A ribbon-cutting ceremony followed, officially opening the new embassy.

The ceremony was attended by a wide group of French officials and diplomats, including members of the French Senate and National Assembly, mayors, regional and municipal representatives, officials from the French President’s Office and the foreign ministry, as well as heads of diplomatic missions based in France.

However, several prominent representatives of the Armenian community in France were not invited to attend. Among them were Ara Toranian, Mourad Papazian, Bishop Grigor Khachatryan, and Hovhannes Gevorgyan.

The Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France expressed dissatisfaction over their exclusion. In a statement, the council said the decision raises questions about Armenia–Diaspora relations and dialogue with the Armenian community in France.

“The embassy represents the Armenian state and, beyond that, the Armenian people in all their diversity. It is the common home of the entire nation, the place where Armenia presents itself in its entirety, diversity, and dignity—standing above the disagreements of the moment and partisan calculations,” the statement said.

In his remarks, Mirzoyan described the opening of the embassy as a significant step for Armenia’s diplomatic presence in France and for strengthening the friendship between the two countries. He said this relationship is based on shared values such as freedom, democracy, and solidarity. He also thanked French authorities for their continued support and noted the symbolic importance of the embassy’s location in the former residence of Valéry Giscard d’Estaing.

Mirzoyan said the opening comes just days before a planned state visit to Armenia by French President Emmanuel Macron, which he described as an important milestone in bilateral relations. He added that ties between Yerevan and Paris have developed into a strategic partnership since Armenia’s independence, with close political dialogue and cooperation across many areas. According to him, this partnership will soon be formalized in a document to be signed by Macron and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Mirzoyan also praised France’s role in supporting peace efforts in the South Caucasus and its commitment to Armenia’s sovereignty, democratic development, and European aspirations.

In his remarks, Barrot said Macron’s upcoming visit would further strengthen ties between the two countries. He also noted that Yerevan will soon host major international events, including the European Political Community summit and the first Armenia–European Union summit, saying the city would become “the beating heart of Europe.” He added that Armenia’s efforts to establish peace with Azerbaijan have opened new possibilities for stability and prosperity in the region.

As of publication, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry had not responded to the criticism. The Armenian Report attempted to contact Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan to clarify how the guest list for the ceremony was formed, but had not received a response.

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