ArmInfo.Deputy of the French National Assembly, vice- chairman of the France-Artsakh friendship group Francois Pouponi supported the statement of the Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) in connection with the attack on the Cultural Center of the Armenian Church in Marseilles.
"Yesterday the Cultural Center of the Armenian Church in Marseilles was attacked. Piano lessons were held in the center at that time. Fortunately, no one was hurt. I support the CCAF statement. And 105 years after the Armenian Genocide, hatred towards them does not fade away. I support the Armenian brothers." , the MP wrote on his Facebook page, sharing the statement of the Council of Armenian Organizations.
The CCAF in its statement expressed its deepest concern over the shelling of the cultural center of St. Sahak and Mesrop, located on the territory of the Armenian Church in Marseilles.
"This building, which also houses the headquarters of CCAF South, was the logistics center for providing humanitarian aid to Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic during the Turkish-Azerbaijani ethnic cleansing launched on September 27, 2020. CCAF also states that the shelling of the building is taking place on against the background of violence organized by the Turkish state against Armenians in various countries, and especially in France.
In addition to a certain number of desecrations, including a statue of Komitas in late August in Paris and a genocide memorial in Desin on November 4, Frenchmen of Armenian descent have been the target of real raids on the streets of the city. The ultranationalist Turkish group "Gray Wolves" involved in these actions was disbanded after these events, "the organization emphasized, informing that they had applied to the relevant law enforcement agencies to find the perpetrators of the attack and bring them to justice.
At the same time, the CCAF called on the French Ministry of Internal Affairs to show increased vigilance in relation to buildings in which religious or cultural events of Armenians are held, and in particular schools. The organization also reiterated its call for the authorities' awareness of the mortal danger posed by the export of the Armenophobia promoted by the Turkish state, and, first of all, the denial of the Armenian genocide, which still remains unpunished.
Earlier, the Armenian Embassy in France expressed concern over the attack on the center. Unknown people fired at the cultural center "St. Sahak and St. Mesrop" in Marseille. The incident took place on January 24 at about 18:40.
The police visited and examined the scene. The bullet pierced the window on the second floor where the piano lesson was taking place. There are no casualties. In connection with the incident, the management of the center filed a complaint with the police. It should be noted that more than 250 children study at the center.