CHIRAC BEGINS 3-DAY VISIT TO ARMENIA

The Associated Press
International Herald Tribune, France
Sept 29 2006

YEREVAN, Armenia French President Jacques Chirac arrived in Armenia
Friday on a three-day visit to this ex-Soviet Caucasus nation.

Chirac was welcomed at the airport by Armenian President Robert
Kocharian who later treated him to a dinner. The two presidents were
set to have official talks Saturday.

On Saturday, Chirac was also scheduled to visit a monument to Armenians
who were killed in the final years of the Ottoman Empire or died in
a forced evacuation.

Armenians say that as many as 1.5 million of their ancestors were
killed in 1915-1923 in an organized genocidal campaign and have pushed
for recognition of the killings as genocide around the world.

Turkey rejects the claim that a mass evacuation and related deaths
of Armenians was genocide and says the death toll is inflated.

Later on Saturday, Chirac was to meet with local French community
and attend a concert by Charles Aznavour, a famous French singer of
Armenian origin.

Chirac also was set to meet with the head of the Armenian Apostolic
Church before leaving Sunday.

YEREVAN, Armenia French President Jacques Chirac arrived in Armenia
Friday on a three-day visit to this ex-Soviet Caucasus nation.

Chirac was welcomed at the airport by Armenian President Robert
Kocharian who later treated him to a dinner. The two presidents were
set to have official talks Saturday.

On Saturday, Chirac was also scheduled to visit a monument to Armenians
who were killed in the final years of the Ottoman Empire or died in
a forced evacuation.

Armenians say that as many as 1.5 million of their ancestors were
killed in 1915-1923 in an organized genocidal campaign and have pushed
for recognition of the killings as genocide around the world.

Turkey rejects the claim that a mass evacuation and related deaths
of Armenians was genocide and says the death toll is inflated.

Later on Saturday, Chirac was to meet with local French community
and attend a concert by Charles Aznavour, a famous French singer of
Armenian origin.

Chirac also was set to meet with the head of the Armenian Apostolic
Church before leaving Sunday.