ARF MEETS WITH FRANCOIS HOLLAND
Yerkir, Armenia
Oct 30 2006
Editorial
An Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committee of Western
Europe delegation headed by Ara Grigorian met on October 17 with
French Socialist Party First Secretary Francois Holland.
The ARF representatives reaffirmed that the French socialists’ role
was pivotal in the French Parliament, which on October 12 passed
a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide. Holland,
in turn, reiterated his party’s position to continue the support for
the bill in the Senate. He also said that the bill is in line with
the January 21, 2001 law recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
The ARF is happy that for decades, the Socialist Party has been
supporting the rightful demands of the Armenian people. We believe
that the Socialist Party’s presidential candidate will keep the
party’s vows. This is why the ARF has committed to publicly endorse
the Socialist candidate. With this prospect in mind, Francois Holland
accepted our proposal to organize a rally in the Paris region during
which the Socialist candidate will speak on the Armenian case.
Finally, according to an agreement, the first secretary of the
Socialist Party is set to visit Armenia on March 2007 on the invitation
of the ARF Bureau.
At the end of the meeting, Ara Grigorian, on behalf of the ARF,
thanked Francois Holland for his firm stand and suggested regular
meetings be held; Holland, naturally, agreed.