ARMENIAN PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARIAN’S SPEECH DURING FRENCH SQUARE OPENING CEREMONY
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 30 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
President Robert Kocharian and the French President Jacques Chirac
made speeches during the ceremony of opening French Square in Yerevan
on September 30. Below is President Robert Kocharian’s speech with
some abridgement:
"Today is a symbolic day. The ceremony of opening French Square in
the heart of Yerevan is being held. All this is taking place at the
start of Year of Armenia in France, at the presence of President
Jacques Chirac and his spouse.
A thousand years have passed since the time when French princes came
for the first time to the land of Cilician Armenia where they were
received as friends and relatives and where they lived and struggled
side by side.
It was at that time that the friendship and relationship of our
peoples started. French kings encouraged scientific studies on
Armenia, collection of Armenian manuscripts and translations from
Armenian. Armenian merchants were given privileges in conducting their
trade between East and West. This friendship has never weakened in any
historical period, quite the opposite, it has deepened and acquired
a new meaning over centuries.
… Our friendship strengthened at the time of the great ordeal. The
best representatives of the French society founded the movement
"armenophile". Condemning the crime organized against the Armenians,
they sent humnitarian aid to those who survived the Genocide. French
warships reached the shores of Cilician Armenia and rescued thousands
of Armenians who has survived massacres.
Mister President,
You have mentioned on many occasions the great contribution of French
Armenians to the economy, science, culture and sports of France.
Enjoying full rights of a French citizen, the descendants of former
emigrants have remained true to their Armenian identity. Charles
Aznavour is a shining example of this. The fate of Aznavour, a son
of the Genocide survivors, is a response of the Armenian people
to genocides. In this respect we attach great importance to the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by France in 2001. This is a
considerable contribution to the protection of violated rights of
the Armenian people and to the prevention of this threat to humanity.
Mister President,
After Armenia became independent, France was one of the first countries
to take the side of out young state and has been assisting with the
creation of our statehood and the development of Armenian economy,
culture and education.
France is a reliable partner in the European and international arena.
A useful and extensive dialog is going on in various directions
between our countries.
France’s assistance for Armenia to help it deepen the cooperation
with European structures deserves a special mention. I would like to
highlight the constructive role that France plays in the settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
Mister President,
One can see Armenian memories – monuments, squares and streets with
Armenian names, Armenian houses and establishments – everywhere
in France. Over a hundred monuments to Armenians and the Armenian
Genocide have been erected in various places of France. They bear
evidence of respect and sympathy for the Armenian people, and we are
grateful to the French people for it…"