Armenia’s Consulate General opens in Lyon
14:19 22.07.2014
The Armenian Consulate General was opened in Lyon on July 21 in a
ceremony attended by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian,
Prefect of Ron-Alp Jean-Francois Carenso, Lyon Mayor Gérard Collomb
and President of the General Council of Ron Daniel Chouseville.
Present at the ceremony were also Charles Aznavour, French lawmakers,
politicians, public and culture figures, heads of Armenian
organizations, media representatives.
In his opening remarks Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian attached
importance to the establishment of the Armenian Consulate General in
Lyon, underlining that Lyon and Ron-Alp play an important role in the
development of comprehensive relations between Armenia and France.
“The first records of the Armenian presence in Lyon date back to the
Middle Ages. The first Armenians were merchants, and later, Armenian
silk producers settled and worked in this region,” Minister Nalbandian
said.
“Thousands of survivors of the Armenian Genocide found their second
Homeland in Lyon, Valans, Grenoble, Vien, Roman, Viliorban,
Sent-Etien, Desin, Sent-Chamon and elsewhere. They integrated into the
French society. They have made and continue making their contributions
to the advancement of Ron-Alp and its cities,” the Minister said.
With the Armenian churches, monuments, schools, cultural and sports
centers, the region of Ron-Alp is an evidence of the high level of
integration of Armenians and strong ties with Armenia, he added.
Minister Nalbandian expressed gratitude to the regional and municipal
authorities of Lyon and Ron-Alp, to the Armenian organizations and
citizens for the continuous support and contribution to the
reinforcement of Armenian-French friendship.
Other speakers at the ceremony included Prefect of Ron-Alp
Jean-Francois Carenso, Lyon Mayor Gérard Collomb and President of the
General Council of Ron Daniel Chouseville.
After the speeches the Armenian flag was raised in front of the
Consulate General to the sound of the Armenian national anthem, after
which Edward Nalbandian, Charles Aznavour, Jean-Francois Carenso,
Gerard Colomb, Daniel Chouseville and Nikolay Sarkisov cut the red
ribbon.
The opening ceremony was widely covered by French media.