France Opens Honorary Consulate in Goris, Showing Strong Support for Syunik Amid Rising Regional Tensions

France officially opened the Office of the Honorary Consul in Goris, a city in Armenia’s southern Syunik Province. This is more than just a ribbon-cutting—it is a strong political message that France stands with Armenia, especially in its most vulnerable border regions.

The opening of this honorary consulate in Goris is a major step in expanding France’s engagement in Armenia. While it does not function as a full consulate, the office—located next to Goris Municipality—is rich in meaning. It shows France’s deepening commitment to Armenia’s territorial integrity, democratic resilience, and peace efforts in a town that is under constant Azerbaijani threat. 

The consulate will be headed by Karmen Apunts, a local Armenian with a strong record of Francophone leadership in the region. Apunts has led the French Cultural Center in Goris for nearly two decades and now takes on the added responsibility of being France’s official representative in southern Armenia.

This marks the second diplomatic post in Syunik, following Iran’s consulate opening in Kapan in 2022. While Russia has expressed intentions to do the same, progress has stalled – which shows the growing gap between words and action when it comes to regional diplomacy.

For the French government, the choice of Goris is both strategic and emotional. Known for its historic ties to France, Goris has long been home to one of Armenia’s few French cultural centers. French is widely taught in local schools, and the city has participated in numerous cultural exchange programs with French municipalities, especially in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

At the opening ceremony, French Ambassador to Armenia Olivier Decottignies described Goris as “a crossroads” for peace and diplomacy in the South Caucasus. “Goris is more than a city—it is a symbol. It is the first place where refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh arrived in 2023. And now, it is the first place where France strengthens its footprint in Syunik,” he said.

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan, speaking at the ceremony and the 5th Armenia-France Decentralized Cooperation Conference held simultaneously in Goris, said that France’s support for Armenia has moved beyond gestures. It is now a strategic partnership aimed at peace, development, and defense.

“We are making determined efforts to bring lasting peace to the region,” said Kostanyan. He added that Armenia is ready to sign and ratify a peace agreement with Azerbaijan based on mutual recognition of borders and territorial integrity, as defined in the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration.

“France’s support helps us do this—not only politically, but by helping us strengthen our democracy, our economy, and our defense,” he emphasized.

French Senator Gilbert-Luc Devinaz, who also attended the event, echoed that support in clear terms. “When we visited Goris in 2023, we saw what it means for a country to be under attack,” he said. “We went back to the French Senate and demanded that France provide Armenia with military means to defend its borders. Today, we are seeing the results of that advocacy.”

The honorary consulate is more than a small office. It is a place where visiting French nationals can find help, where cooperation projects can be born, and where dialogue between the people of France and Armenia can continue to grow.

“What we are building together is more than technical cooperation,” said Ambassador Decottignies. “It’s a real tool for influence—for supporting Armenia and for acting in favor of peace.”

The consulate opening came as the Armenia-France Decentralized Cooperation Conference got underway in Goris, bringing together over 400 officials, lawmakers, and local leaders from both countries. The event demonstrated the powerful, people-driven connection between France and Armenia, especially through regional and city-level partnerships.

One of the key themes at the conference was investment in Syunik—a region under threat but also full of potential. Deputy FM Kostanyan hinted at upcoming infrastructure projects in partnership with French companies, showing that this relationship is not only about defense but also development.

France is stepping in at a time when Armenia needs reliable allies. As Azerbaijan continues to apply military and political pressure on Syunik, and as the region still recovers from the aftermath of the 2023 ethnic cleansing of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, the presence of a powerful European friend in Goris sends a loud and clear message.

For Armenia, especially the people of Syunik, it is a signal that they are not alone. France is not just watching. It is acting—through diplomacy, aid, defense cooperation, and solidarity.

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