YEREVAN (Armenpress)—French President Francois Hollande arrived in Armenia on Monday for a two-day visit to the country as part of a visit to the wider South Caucasus region. Hollande was greeted by the President of Armenia Serzh Sarkisian upon arrival with a welcoming ceremony.
Francois Hollnde is expected to attend the opening of the Armenian-French Business Forum and visit the site designated for a future Carrefour store, the famous and sometimes controversial French international hypermarket’s first store in Armenia. The French President will also conduct the opening of a new park in Yerevan, the Misak Manushian Park, in memory of the prominent French-Armenian famous for his involvement in the Resistance Movement against the Nazi occupiers of France during World War II. Lastly, Hollande is expected to meet with the French community of Armenia at the French Embassy.
In October 2013, President Francois Hollande received the President of Armenia Serzh Sarkisian in Paris. The two-day visit aims to further strengthen the friendly ties between Armenia and France. As the visit aims to put the existing economic and trade relations between the two countries on a higher level, Hollande arrived in Armenia accompanied by a large delegation of business leaders who will take part in the Armenian-French business forum.
On Monday, Presidents Hollande and Sarkisian visited the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial, laying flowers at the monument and honoring the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
Later, Hollande will attend a concert by famous French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour, taking place in Yerevan.
At the Presidential Palace, a state dinner will be held in honor of the French President.
Of course ,,,, having the president of France visit Armenia is healthy for us but at this point it should be beneficial to Armenia more than it is for France .
Soon president’s must first fly through Moscow if they wish to meet with the High Governor of the Armenian Oblast.
Soon presidents must first fly through Moscow if they wish to meet with the High Governor of the Armenian Oblast.
Perhaps Sarkisian should also quiz Hollande on France’s involvement with the League of Nations in handing over Sanjak of Alexandretta to Ataturk in 1939, thus leaving Kessab exposed to cross border aggression.
High profile visit is good for Armenia – there is a huge number of diaspora Armenians in France and they are supporting this trip by Hollande to Armenia. You don’t see him visiting the neighboring bedouin deserts known as Azerbaijan ! He is quite tasteful in his decision to go to Armenia.
Armenian oblast ??? Ridiculousness trespasses boundaries and borders and stretches the imagination to the seams.We are blessed , at least we are recognized as an Armenian oblast and not as a Turkish village or hamlet, or mountainous Turks. God bless Armenia and Russia and the Armeno Russian friendship .
Hratch,
If at this historical juncture and with Turkic barbarians to the Southwest and East Armenia needs to become a Russian province in order to preserve its millennia-long existence and civilization, so be it. Think in wider geopolitical context, if you can. When Armenia was a bunch of vilayets in the Ottoman Turkey, its population was savagely mass murdered and forcibly deported, and its ancestral lands looted and stolen. Do you prefer backward Muslim Turks over strong Christian Russians? Amazing how myopic Armenians like you can be!