France welcomes Armenian ratification of ICC treaty

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French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna hailed the Armenian parliament's ratification of the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court on Tuesday -- a vote that has angered Russia.

"I welcome the decision of the Armenian parliament... The struggle against impunity for crimes is a condition for peace and stability," she wrote on X, formerly Twitter, during a visit to Armenia.

Colonna also met with burn victims, many of them injured by a fuel depot explosion last month in the breakaway enclave of Nagorno Karabakh, in a hospital in Yerevan.

"You can count on our continued support," Colonna said after the visit, promising that France would treat four victims who would be flown out this weekend.

"I'm honoured that our country is your closest, and perhaps most loyal, friend," she told reporters.

Armenian Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan said: "This humanitarian support, this human support, is very important".

More than 100,000 refugees have fled Karabakh to Armenia since an Azerbaijani military offensive there last month.

During the exodus, a massive explosion on the outskirts of the rebel stronghold of Stepanakert killed 170 people and injured hundreds more.

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