PARIS (Gamk)–An announcement regarding the establishment of an Armenian National Committee of Europe headquarters was made Sunday during a celebration in Paris marking the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
ARF Bureau chairman Hrant Markarian hailed the French Senate’s adoption of the resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide and announced a recent Bureau decision to establish a central headquarters for the ANC of Europe.
Western European Central Committee chairman Mourad Papazian stated that the headquarters would be in Brussels where most European institutions are based. An office will also be opened in Paris considering the fact that France has the largest Armenian community in Europe.
Markarian called upon the people to take part in the demonstration to be held at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on November 14. The purpose of the demonstration is to secure the clause requiring Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide before ascending to the European Union.
Plans to establish a representative institution in the near future for the French Armenian community was also announced by Papazian.
Close to 800 members of the community attended the celebration of the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation–which was held at Paris’ Palais de Congres hall.
Joining Markarian at the celebrations were fellow Bureau members Garo Armenian and Hagop Yenikomshian. Also attending the even was Armenia’s Ambassador to France Eduard Nalbandian–as well the chairman of the ANC of France Ara Krikorian.
In his remarks–Markarian focused on ARF activities of the past decade and the current situation. He reiterated a call to unite Karabakh to Armenia–saying that concessions that would involve giving up any part of Armenia were unacceptable.
The ARF leader also discussed the grave situation–in which the Armenia’s of Javakhk currently find themselves–adding that the Georgian authorities must not ignore the Armenian population living within their borders.
Markarian also praised the Diaspora for its activism in the pursuit of the Armenian Cause and the strengthening of Armenia’s statehood.
Also attending the event were representatives of the Armenian church–member of the French parliament and the mayor of Alforville Renee Rouquet and the chairman of the "April 24" committee Alexi Govsian.