MONUMENT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS AND ARMENIAN FIGHTERS PERISHED IN THE NAME OF FRANCE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 25 2007

MEUDON LA FORET, APRIL 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Herve
Marseille, the Mayor of the French city of Meudon La Foret and
Ambassador of Armenia Eduard Nalbandian solemny opened on April 21
in the central square of the city the monument dedicated to memory
of the Armenian Genocide victims and Armenian fighters perished in
the name of France.

National Assembly deputy, former minister Patrick Devedjian, other
parliament members, delegates of the General Council of Hauts-de-Seine,
representatives of rural authorities of the neighboring cities,
heads of French Armenian organizations, representatives of French
Armenian spiritual authorities and hundreds of citizens of Meudon La
Foret were present at the solemn ceremony.

Martial flags were lowered under the anthems of Armenia and France,
wreaths were laid to the monument.

"It is not accidental that it is written on the monument: in memory of
the 1915 genocide martyrs and Armenian fighters perished in the name
of France,- Ambassador Eduard Nalbandian said in the opening speech. –
It is very symbolic as they were sons of just the ones escaped the
genocide who completely devoted themselves to France, giving their life
in the name of France in the World War II, as a token of gratitude.

The Liturgy in memory of the Armenian martyrs was celebrated at the
Notre-Dame de Paris on April 22. Archbishop Michel Coloni of Dijon
sermonized during the liturgy celebrated at the main temple of France
with Armenian rituals.

The rampart of vigilance against denial was placed on April 21 and
22 in the square of Notre-Dame de Paris, on the initiative of the
Armenian Youth Organizations on Struggle against Denial. Dozens of
stands told thousands of visitors about the genocides starting from
the first genocide of the 20th century to another genocide of the
21st century, the Darfur one, as well as about the next victim of
Turk nationalists, public figure and journalist Hrant Dink.