On April 24 in all Armenian 40 churches of France a mass of memory was given and bells rang. And in Marseilles with 50.000 Armenians with the participation of the delegation headed by Artur Baghdasaryan, RA NA President invited by Jean-Claude Gaudin, First Vice President of the French Senate, Mayor of Marseilles a memorial was opened dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims in the avenue named after April 24. Meanwhile a solemn rally took place from the municipality up to April 24 avenue. The opening of the memorial attended Christian Fremont, Prefect of Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, representative of the Government, Christophe Maas, General Council President of Bouches-du-Rhone region, representative of Jean-Noel-Guerini, Michel Vauzelle, General Council President of Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, Renaud Muselier, Edward Nalbandyan, Ambassador of Armenia to France, French and Armenian people.

At the opening ceremony of the memorial to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims Artur Baghdasaryan, NA President said:

“April 24 is a sad day for us. In numerous countries hundreds of thousands people pay their tribute to the Genocide victims, visit the memorials. The recognition of the Genocide is the issue of the Armenian people’s dignity, the tribute of respect of the civilized humankind to the memory of the innocent victims, the recognition of justice and the token of the reality that such crimes never be committed.

At the hard times for France the Armenian sons of France as faithful citizens defended with arms the freedom of their new Motherland. Today, the Armenian community with about 500.000 people faithfully fulfills its duty before France becoming the token of our friendship. As NA President I would like to express my gratitude to the state of France on behalf of the Armenian authorities for this monument, also express my gratitude to all those who made possible the opening of this memorial: Jean-Claude Gaudin, our compatriot Gilbert Kerkerian, Deputy Mayor, all those who were next to the Armenian people. Today, the Republic of Armenia continues the path of progress. April 24 is a day of tragedy, but also spiritual rise, but today we should also be able to look towards the future, move forward with our friends, and reach the recognition of the Armenian Genocide because its shadow continues to accompany our people.

We should be able to move forward thanks to our compatriots, our friends. I express my gratitude again to the state of France for being next to us.”

Jean-Claude Gaudin, First Vice President of the French Senate, Mayor of Marseilles, highlighting the presence of the Parliament President and MPs at the opening ceremony of the memorial, noted: “When we put the first stone of this memorial, we also agreed to meet at the opening ceremony. From now on, meeting in Marseilles, in Yerevan this memorial will be in your hearts, as well as in the hearts of all Armenians living in Marseilles. This is an important political event in the life of our countries when in Marseilles such memorial is opened and the President of the National Assembly of Armenia attends the ceremony.”

Mr. Gaudin read the letter of Mrs. Mariam Kalachian, 100-year inhabitant of Marseilles addressed to him where the Armenian woman survived from the Genocide, wrote that in the memorial she sees the memory of her parents, who fell victims of Genocide in Turkey.

Christian Fremont, Prefect of Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, representative of the Government delivered a speech in the name of France and ensured once again that France is next to Armenia and condemns the Genocide, he noted that in France nobody doubts the fact of Genocide, and France is next to Armenia not only in condemning the Genocide but in all issues concerning Armenia: reforms, cooperation in international structures and the evidence of that friendship is the year of Armenia under the heading “Armenia, My Friend” starting from September.

In the speeches sounded at the opening ceremony of the memorial the Genocide was also condemned, and a tribute was paid to the Genocide victims.

At Hamazgayin college of Marseilles an exciting meeting was held with the students and teachers. The college director considered historical the visit of the President of the National Assembly of independent Armenia to the college, especially on April 24.

Artur Baghdasaryan, NA President expressed his gratitude in his speech to all people with whose efforts the college has been established. And it’s fulfilling its hard mission of preserving Armenians in Marseilles. The NA President highlighted the role of ARF in that issue. “I know that it’s hard for you, you should work in such way that you would keep the Armenian hearth in your generations’ souls, have strength and wisdom to love Armenia and keep a warm place in your hearts for Armenia. We are strong together. We can’t say that today Armenia and Diaspora work efficiently together, many things are not done. We should be more in touch with each other, use your assistance more efficiently to create such Armenia that we dream about. Today, Armenia is in a hard period but we gradually move forward, overcoming all the difficulties. We should create such Motherland where people would return. That is, of course, not easy but we should work to create a democratic, good and fair Armenia, said NA President. He also noted that in all meetings he became convinced that the French Armenian community is very organized and good community, and the great respect towards the Armenian people and Armenia. Artur Baghdasaryan invited the students of the school to Armenia for seeing and recognizing the Motherland.

During the day Artur Baghdasaryan, NA President gave a few interviews to the French TV companies and newspapers.