Address by H.E. Mr Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Armenia at the reception held at the Paris City Hall

24 April 2008 Paris
Mr Mayor,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

As it became a tradition in the past years, we are gathered today at the
Paris City Hall, to jointly pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the
Armenian Genocide of 1915, perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire.
For me this is also an opportunity to thank the Municipality of Paris, and
you personally Mr Mayor, for the initiation of this traditional
commemoration ceremony.
The commemoration of the first but, unfortunately, not the last genocide of
20th century gives us a common responsibility before the next generations
not to allow the future of mankind to be marred by crimes against humanity,
to ensure their condemnation and prevention in conformity with the
resolutions adopted within the framework of the United Nations.

History has various examples of will and determination of nations and
statesmen, who have reconciled with their past. And they came out of that
ordeal with more might and strength. Today, they are honored for their
wisdom and courage, which has allowed their nations to regain their dignity
and gave the world a hope for a better future.

We all remember the highly symbolic scene, when at the l’Ossuaire de
Douaumont President Francois Mitterrand and Chancellor Helmut Kohl stood
hand in the hand in front of the tombs of the German and French soldiers,
who perished in the three deadly wars between 1870 and 1945.
Attaching particular importance to the lessons of history, the two leaders
were conscious of their obligation before their peoples to help them to
overcome the anguish of the past and together build a peaceful and
prosperous future.
On many an occasion, they demonstrated a will to act to bring reconciliation
to France and Germany, to all European nations exhausted by centuries of
warfare and hatred. The best illustration was setting of the foundation for
the new Europe. Like their great predecessors – President de Gaulle and
Chancellor Adenauer – they won the recognition of their peoples and forever
entered the history of mankind.
Having reemerged from many fratricidal and deadly wars, having built a
united and reconciled destiny for its nations, Europe again became a source
of light and of wisdom for the mankind. Europe showed the way to peace that
gives peoples dignity and confidence in the future.
I hope that the day will come, when Armenian and Turkish leaders will pay
joint tribute to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide and our
peoples, liberated from the burden of their past, will together build a
better future.
I hope and I believe, that the future of our peoples cannot be ensured
without this reconciliation, since the way forward is not that to forget but
to acknowledge and to remember. Only by turning together the dark page of
our history, shall we be able to look into our future with serenity and
confidence.
I hope and I believe, and I have confidence in the wisdom of the Armenia and
Turkish peoples and of the statesmen of our two countries. Armenia has
stated several times that it is ready to establish relations with Turkey
without any preconditions.
I would like to reiterate that Armenia is ready to continue the initiatives
in this direction in order to find solutions reflecting the interests of all
countries in our region, addressing the aspiration of our neighboring
nations to live in peace and prosperity.
The strategic importance of the South Caucasus is not just in its natural
riches, but in its location on an important North-South and East-West axis,
which can only be fully utilized if conflicts are resolved and
good-neighborly relations are established. This is in the interest of our
countries and of our peoples. The Republic of Armenia will spare no effort
to bring that day closer

Dear Mayor,
Friends,

I avail myself of the opportunity provided by this day, to repeat words of
gratitude to the French authorities, to the French people, to entire France:
a friendly state where I have had the honor and the privilege to represent
Armenia for almost ten years, a country where the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide has a force of law, a country with which Armenia’s
relations of the recent years have been distinguished by the highest level
attained in the course of the secular French-Armenian history.
I would like to address also the French of Armenian origin and to commend
them for having remained so devoted and faithful to the values of the French
Republic, while maintaining strong link with their roots. Your presence in
such big numbers in this hall proves it.
I would like also to praise the representatives of French national,
regional, departmental and municipal authorities, Senators, Members of the
National Assembly, politicians, representatives of intellectual, artistic
and cultural circles, the media and the unions, the thousands of French
Armenians, and all those whose support I have enjoyed during all these
years.

Mr Mayor,
Dear friends,

I thank again the City of Paris for organizing this event, which offers me
an opportunity to speak at the hall that has become so familiar, in this
beautiful City Hall, which is impossible to forget.

Thank you Paris!
Thank you France!
****************************************** *
Press and Information Department
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Armenia
Tel. + 37410 544041. ext. 202
Fax. + 37410 565601
e-mail: press@mfa.am
web:

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress