MINISTER OF DIASPORA MEETS TO HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS AND ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF MARSEILLES
Noyan Tapan
Apr 10, 2009
Marseilles, April 10, Noyan Tapan, The Armenians Today. The official
visit of the Armenia’s minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobian to
France continues.
In the fringes of the visit between 4 and 6 of April the minister
stayed in Marseilles, where she had numerous meetings with
representatives of the Armenian community and high-ranking officials.
Ms. Hakobian presented the mission, principles and purposes of the
ministry of Diaspora at the meeting attended by the senior staff of
nearly all Armenian organizations and followed by the discussion. In
the fringes of the visit the minister laid a wreath on the Memorial to
the Victims of the Genocide of 1915 of Beau monde area. The memorial is
a small copy Tsitsernakaberd, Yerevan’s Armenian Genocide Monument. In
the Holy Translators’ Apostolic Church (Srbots Targmanchats) the
minister took part in the Saint liturgy devoted to the celebration
of Tsaghkazard ("Adornment of Flowers"). During the public meeting
the minister answered the questions of the representatives of the
Armenian community gathered at the church hall.
The Armenian delegation also visited the Cultural Center Sahak-Mesrop,
the Armenian Evangelical Church, as well as the cultural and youth
centers.
Singing, dancing, Armenian language and other study groups
are organized at the Youth Center. Once within the wall of the
Center scenes fro m the "Ararat, my love" play were professionally
performed. A number of questions related to the mission and activities
of the ministry of Diaspora, potential development of cooperation
between Armenia and Diaspora, issues concerning Diaspora-based
organizations and Armenians were discussed during the meeting with
the representatives of Marseilles’s Armenian community at the
Armenian General Benevolent Union. The minister H.Hakobian also
visited the "Aram" Documentary Armenological Center, which preserves
historical records of the French-Armenian community, numerous books
and documents. The Armenian delegation visited the Marseilles’s ARF
"Dashnaktsutyun" club and All-national School. Established in 2003
through state support, the school is the only one in France which
has classes at all levels: from pre-school to university.
According to the Information and public relation department of the
ministry of Diaspora, the minister Hakobian met with the mayor of
13-14 municipal arrondissements of Marseilles Karo Hovsepian on
April 6. During the meeting with Roland Blum, First Deputy Mayor
City of Marseilles, and two mayors issues related to France-Armenia
relationship were discussed. Minister also met President of the
General Council of Bouches-du-Rone Jean-NoÃ"l Guerini, who admitted,
that his love to Armenia had no boundaries. Jean-NoÃ"l Guerini told,
that he had been to Armenia many times. By his initiative medical
centers were established in Gyumri and Ejmitsin, and many clinics
were completed with new medical equipment.
From: Baghdasarian