FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC ARRIVES IN ARMENIA

Armenpress
Sept 28 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: The press office of the Armenian
President said today French President Jacques Chirac will pay a state
visit to Armenia from September 29 to October 1. Chirac is coming at
the invitation of his Armenian counterpart President Robert Kocharian.

Kocharian’s press office said the French delegation includes foreign
minister Phillip Douste Blazy, transport, tourism and seafaring
minister Dominique Perben, state service minister Christian Jacob
and culture and communication minister Reno Donedio de Vabre.

President Chirac will be accompanied also by a vats delegation of
French businessmen, prominent representatives of art, culture,
academic and sport communities, members of the French Armenian
community and journalists.

The official welcoming ceremony will be held at Yerevan Zvartnots
airport . Chirac and Kocharian will speak to reporters after talks
at Kocharian’s residence. The French delegation will lay flowers to
the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan to commemorate the victims of the
1915 Armenian genocide. The French President will then be welcomed
by His Holiness Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

President Chirac will also meet with the staff of the French embassy
in Yerevan.

Kocharian and Chirac will participate also in the official opening of
France Square in central Yerevan and will attend an open-air concert
of the famous French Armenian singer Charles Aznavour in Republic
Square. All these evens will give the start of the Year of Armenia
in France held under the motto ‘Armenia is My Friend."