HENRY CUNY: “ARMENIAN-FRENCH CULTURAL TIES COME FROM ANCIENT DAYS”

Noyan Tapan News Agency
Sept 29 2005

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Within the
framework of French Cultural Days in Armenia, an exhibition “Collection
of French Literature” opened on September 28, at the National Library
of Armenia. More than three hundreds of units of literature in French
kept at the library archives are displayed in separate expositions.

Rafik Ghazarian, the Deputy Director of the National Library of Armenia
mentioned that the library is provided with French literature every
year. 2400 units of incunabular books of the 16-18th centuries are
kept only in the library department of incunabular, rare and archive
literature. The most ancient book is “Heavenly, Erthly, Infernal”
published in France in 1580. There is a book with Jean Jacques
Rousseau’s signature and one book with signature of the Prince of
Monaco at the library.

“The National Library of Armenia has always been famous for its
rich collection but it was a surprise for me as well to see so many
valuable and incunabular books here. This exhibition proves that
the Armenian-French cultural ties come from ancient days, continue
today as well and are aimed to develop,” Henry Cuny, the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia mentioned.

On the same day, an exhibition of French stamps, books and documents
dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte opened at the Armenian Association
of Cultural Ties and Cooperation with Foreign Countries.