France ready to sign agreement with Armenia on supplying arms - French foreign minister

YEREVAN. Oct 3 (Interfax) - Paris is ready to sign an agreement with Yerevan on providing military equipment, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has said.

"France has agreed to sign an agreement with Armenia on providing military hardware to ensure Yerevan's security," Colonna said at a press conference in Yerevan on Tuesday.

She said she cannot provide details, but "a number of issues has already been agreed between Paris and Yerevan."

"We're also considering other cooperation issues," Colonna said.

Both countries are working "to avoid escalation, being aware that there is a neighbor that constantly engages in hostile acts," she said.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan for his part said that the agreement envisages France supporting Armenia's defense capabilities.

"France has never demanded that we withdraw from the CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization]," Mirzoyan said.

Colonna also said that she requested that High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell expand and reinforce the European Union Mission in Armenia.

"We have also proposed including Armenia in the European Peace Facility, which is being implemented, for instance, in Moldova. Our objective is the European Union reacting to issues related to Armenia's territorial integrity the same way as France does. Any action which could threaten Armenia's territorial integrity should receive a clear response," she said.