Michel Tankrez, representative of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund France Chapter in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic,  has been living in Stepanakert with his family for 12 years and considers himself half French and half an Armenian from Nagorno-Karabakh.

“I met my wife during the Nagorno-Karabakh war. We both traveled from France to Nagorno-Karabakh to provide humanitarian assistance. That’s how we met. We got married and moved to France. After going on pension, my wife and I decided to come and settle in Nagorno-Karabakh,” Michel Tankrez said, according to News.am.

At first, it was very hard for Tankrez. Although the people of Nagorno-Karabakh are very hospitable, he faced many hardships since he didn’t know Armenian at all. “I learned Armenian in Nagorno-Karabakh. However, I can’t speak in the dialect. That’s very hard for me,” Tankrez said.

Every year, Michel Tankrez visits France to organize fundraisers for Artsakh and carries out projects in Artsakh’s villages with the funds raised during charity events. Tankrez’s wife and 20-year-old daughter came to Stepanakert 12 years ago and never returned to France.

“My daughter says she will stay in Stepanakert. My wife and I also aren’t planning on leaving. Artsakh is a democratic country. The only thing it needs is peace,” Michel Tankrez mentioned and added: “Recognition is necessary for peace. It will be difficult without recognition.”

Michel Tankrez hopes to acquire citizenship of the Republic of Armenia soon and feel fully Armenian.