ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
September 28, 2006 Thursday 10:03 PM EST

Chirac begins first visit to Armenia

French President Jacques Chirac will begin the first-ever three-day
state visit to Armenia on Friday and will participate in the opening
of France Square in Yerevan.

Chirac will have one-on-one talks with Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan, which are to be followed by a joint press conference.

On Saturday a gala concert will be held in central Republic Square in
Yerevan, which will mark the beginning of the Year of Armenia in
France.

Chirac is also to visit the memorial to the victims of 1915 genocide
in the Ottoman Empire, and St. Echmiadzin where he will meet
Catholicos Garegin the Second.

This is the first visit of the French head of state to Armenia.
Chirac is accompanied by Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy,
Transport Minister Dominique Perben, Minister of State Christian
Jacob, Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres.