New York Times, NY
Dec 27 2008
Aznavour Granted Armenian Citizenship
Compiled by Dave Itzkoff
Published: December 26, 2008
Charles Aznavour, above, the singer-songwriter and actor, was granted
citizenship in Armenia by the decree of that country’s president on
Friday, Agence-France Presse reported. Though known as the Frank
Sinatra of France, Mr. Aznavour, 84, was born Shahnour Aznavourian in
Paris to Armenian parents and has been an advocate of charity efforts
to benefit Armenia. He organized a series of benefit concerts after
the 1988 earthquakes there and is the country’s permanent delegate to
Unesco. He is also the first French performer to have a platinum
record in Europe, and his songs have been covered by English-speaking
singers from Elvis Costello to Liza Minnelli. The president of
Armenia, Serge Sargsyan, said in a statement that he had granted
citizenship to Mr. Aznavour, whom he called a `prominent singer and
public figure’ and `a hero of the Armenian people.’