ArmInfo. An event marking the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey took place in Charenton-le-Pont, France. The event was attended by Mr Olivier Capitanio, Presidential of the Departmental Council of Val-de-Marne and other officials.
Speaking at the event, Armenian Ambassador to France Hasmik Tolmajyan stated that a genocidal policy toward Armenians is not restricted to the Armenian Genocide committed in 1915. This policy was launched in the 19th century with the Armenian pogroms in the Ottoman Empire in 1894-1895 and has since regularly been manifested. A manifestation of this policy is Azerbaijan's policy of ethnic cleansing toward the 120,000-strong Armenian population of Artsakh by isolating it from the outside world by means of a blockade of the Lachin corridor, which has lasted for 130 days.
Speeches were made by Charenton-le-Pont Mayor Herve Gicquel, the Artsakh representative Hovhannes Gevorgyan, Ms Delphine Kouyoumdjian, President of the French-Armenian Alliance of Val-de-Marne, Mr Christian Cambon, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces, Senate of France and Mr Michel Herbillon, Vice-President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Parliament of France.
Saint-Maurice Matyor Igor Semo and Maisons-Alfort Mayor Marie France Parrain laid wreaths at the cross-stone in commemoration of Armenian Genocide victims. Attending the event were also clergymen and Charenton-le-Pont school students.