On May 24, as part of his working visit to France, the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Zareh Sinanyan, visited the cities of Nîmes and Marseille.
In Nîmes, accompanied by Armen Martirosyan, President of the Amicale Franco-Arménienne de Nîmes et du Gard (Franco-Armenian Association of Nîmes and Gard), High Commissioner Sinanyan visited the Armenian Park, dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. At the park, he laid flowers at the khachkar (cross-stone) commemorating the victims, paying tribute to their memory.
Subsequently, the High Commissioner met with teachers from the “Bernard Mazeran” Armenian one-day school, young community activists, and other members of the local Armenian community. During the meeting, Mr. Sinanyan presented the activities, ongoing programs, and initiatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, addressing the attendees’ questions and concerns.
In the afternoon, Mr. Sinanyan traveled to Marseille to attend the festive gala concert dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Jeunesse Arménienne de France (JAF – Armenian Youth of France) cultural association. The event took place at the prestigious “Le CEPAC Silo” concert hall in Marseille.
Also in attendance were Ara Mkrtchian, Consul General of the Republic of Armenia in Marseille, Deputy Mayor of Marseille Yannick Ohanessian, along with several high-ranking officials and spiritual leaders.
Read also
During the anniversary event, performances were given by JAF’s “Araxe” dance group, the “Sassoun” band, and the “Azad” choir, involving around 100 participants.
Over the years, the Armenian Youth of France organization has become a key institution for preserving Armenian identity, promoting national culture, advocating for the Armenian Cause, and strengthening Armenia–Diaspora ties. The organization offers classes in Armenian language and history and runs groups for music, dance, and visual arts. More than 250 young people are involved in the union.
During the event, Luiza Gragati Hakobyan—the 2023 Diaspora Youth Ambassador in Marseille, founder and director of the Minas Avetisyan Art School under the JAF, and a member of the Union of Artists of Armenia—presented her collection of paintings dedicated to JAF’s anniversary.
