The Armenian government has approved the allocation of more than $1 million from the state reserve fund to organize a concert in Gyumri on May 5, coinciding with the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, official documents reveal that 392.9 million drams are required for the large-scale event at Vardanants Square. The concert, titled "Music Bridge: Armenia-France," is dedicated to the friendship and deepening cultural cooperation between the two nations. President Macron's state visit, scheduled for May 3-5, will also include his participation in the European Political Community summit.
During the visit, the French leader is set to hold both one-on-one and expanded meetings with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, followed by a joint statement. A formal meeting with President Vahagn Khachaturyan is also on the agenda. On May 5, Macron will travel to Gyumri to honor the victims of the 1988 Spitak earthquake before attending the concert alongside Pashinyan. Previously, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan announced that a document on Strategic Partnership is expected to be signed between the two countries during this visit.
France has historically maintained close diplomatic and cultural ties with Armenia, often acting as a key mediator in regional affairs. This high-level visit and the substantial financial allocation for cultural events underscore the intensifying bilateral relations and Armenia's efforts to strengthen its partnership with Paris amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the region.
