AZNAVOUR TO BECOME AN AMBASSADOR
By Chris Green
Independent.co.uk
Friday, 13 February 2009
The French singer Charles Aznavour has agreed to become an ambassador
to Switzerland for his ancestral homeland of Armenia.
Aznavour, 84, who has been dubbed the French Frank Sinatra, was born
in France of Armenian parents. He was granted Armenian citizenship
in December last year in recognition of his humanitarian work in the
country, but lives in Switzerland.
In an interview broadcast on Armenian television, the singer said:
"At first I hesitated, as I thought that this is no easy matter. But
then I thought that, in the end, what is important for Armenia must
be important for all of us. I accepted this proposal with pleasure,
joy and a deep feeling of honour."
Aznavour has always maintained close links with his parents’ country,
learning the language despite growing up in France. After an earthquake
in 1988 which killed 25,000 people, he set up the Aznavour for
Armenia committee to help victims. The following year he wrote and
recorded a charity single, "Pour toi Armenie", which sold more than
a million copies.