MONUMENT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS OPENED IN FRENCH CITY OF TOULON

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 13 2006

PARIS, JUNE 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Ambassador of Armenia
to France Edvard Nalbandian and Toulon Mayor, Senator, former Minister
Hubert Falco opened solemny in the Toulon central park on June 9 the
tufa-built khachkar (cross stone)-monument dedicated to memory of the
1915 Armenian Genocide victims erecting of which the Armenian community
of Toulon assisted. Prefects, deputies, mayors, local self-government
bodies and heads of the French Armenian organizations, hundreds of
representatives of the Armenian community were present at the ceremony.

The French Naval Orchestra performed at the ceremony of opening the
khachkar hymns of Armenia and France, the two countries’ flags were
bent, numerous wreaths were laid to the monument.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and
Information Department, in his speech Ambassador E.Nalbandian mentioned
that khachkars-monuments dedicated to memory of the Armenian Genocide
victims were opened in different cities of France during the recent
years. These khachkars-monuments express the whole French people’s
unreserved condemnation of the Genocide and solidarity with the
Armenian people in a notable and obvious way.

“Within the framework of the Year of Armenia in France, about 40 oldest
khachkars created by Armenian masters will be exhibited in Louvre,
at the exhibition entitled Armenia Sacra, as the brightest display
of the Armenian people’s culture,” E.Nalbandian said.

During the visit paid to Toulon, Ambassador E.Nalbandian discussed
with Hubert Falco preparatory process of events envisaged in Toulon
within the framework of the Year of Armenia to France.