2018 is an important year for the Armenian community in France since celebrations dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia are expected on May 28, which will also be attended by the French Foreign Minister. Co-chairman of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France, Murad Papazyan told this at a press conference. He noted that commemoration events are also expected in April, dedicated to the next anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. “It is not clear yet whether French President Macron will be present or not. We hope that on that very day he will announce that April 24 is marked as the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day in France”, said Murad Papazyan.
He underlined the fact that the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day was set in France, the main demand of the French-Armenian community, which recently voiced at the meeting with Macron. “He also assured that the bill penalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide will be updated and will take a new course. The fact that the Constitutional Court of France canceled the bill at the end of last year was not positive for Macron. It should be put in another legal dimension, our lawyers will work on that”, Papazyan said.
The speaker also stated that the Francophonie summit will be held in Armenia this year, and within the framework of which Macron and representatives of the French-Armenian community will arrive in Armenia. “We should politicize the summit and make use of it. Armenia will gain new allies among the Francophone countries. By the way, Turkey and Azerbaijan will not participate in the summit”, noted Murad Papazyan.
Luiza SUKIASYAN
