The President has answered the questions of students and was impressed
French President Francois Hollande arrived in Armenia to attend the events commemorating the centenary of the Armenian Genocide visited the French University of Armenia (FUA). In the interview with “Aravot”, the Rector of the French University Jean-Jacques Montois considered the visit of the President of France as token. “In the morning, he paid a tribute to the Armenian Genocide victims, and in the afternoon, he visited the University to see the Armenian young people who will create the future of Armenia. The main objective of his visit was to meet with the University students, talk and exchanged views with them.” President Hollande had the chance to be introduced to the University staff and answer the questions of the students. The latter referred economic and political type of questions to the President, as well as questions related to the Armenian genocide, terrorism and “Charlie Hebdo”.
To the question of how the President Hollande sees the future development of the Armenian-French relations, the President replied that he gives much importance to the role of the University and its alumni in the context of economic, cultural and political ties development between Armenia and France and the European Union. A student of Marketing Faculty of the French University, also Chairman of the University Students’ Council, Gevorg Baghdasaryan was impressed by Francois Hollande’s straightforwardness. “The French President’s visit was truly historic for us, we will always remember that we have met with the President of the French Republic in our student years. We learned quite a lot of new things, such as how to work with the Office of the President and so on. The meeting was held in a very cordial atmosphere, even before we had heard from our French friends that the President is an open person, in which we became sure during our meeting. When talking to him, there was no tension, we quietly asked questions and received comprehensive answers. We raised 8-9 questions and the meeting lasted for quite a long time,” said a student to “Aravot”.
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We asked Gevorg about his question to French President. He said that it was related to the process of Armenia-Europe partnership especially after joining the Eurasian Union and the developments after the Riga summit. As conveyed by the University Rector, President Hollande, in his turn, was impressed by the students’ questions, the mature thinking, high level of education and knowledge. “The President of the Republic of France also praised the University’s academic, administrative and technical staff’s high quality features and efficient work. The role for each of them is primary. Constantly being next to the University students, they help them getting Armenian and French bachelor’s and master’s degrees state diplomas, which are already granted for 15 years in collaboration with our partner Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University. This was an important event as the French president Hollande thus shows his support to the University so that the latter will be able to the best fulfill its mission,” added Mr. Montois. He added that President Hollande highlighted the role of Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University in the establishment of the French University in Armenia and urged Jacques Kombi to continue his efforts to the future development of the University and its curriculum. In the end of the visit, President Hollande made a record in the book of the “Guests of Honor”, noting that the University administration, staff, professors and the students ensure one of the of the best partnerships between France and Armenia. Note that President Hollande was accompanied by Education Minister Armen Ashotyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of FUA Arthur Baghdasaryan, French Ambassador to Armenia Jean-François Charpentier, President of Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University Jacques Kombi, and the General Director of “Orange Armenia” as a partner company.
Gohar HAKOBYAN
In the Photo: Francois Hollande and Jean-Jacques Montois
