The tribute of Anne Hidalgo mayor of Paris to Armenian women
Sunday in the spring sunshine of March 8 in the Garden of Yerevan on the occasion of the International Day of Women’s Rights, the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo inaugurated, in partnership with Blue Cross of Armenians in France, an audience 100 roses in honor of Armenian women and to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide (1915-2015).
In the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in France Vigen Tchitetchian, elected officials, including the member René Rouquet Levon Sayan, Alexis Govciyan Ara Toranian, Harout Mardirossian, Antoine Bagdikian, Robert Kéchichian … more assistants the Mayor of Paris and Patrick Klugman, International Relations and Francophonie, the mayor of the 8th arrondissement of Paris, Madame Jeanne of Hautesserre paid tribute to Armenian women victims of genocide, showing “solidarity of the Republic to Armenians and which will see French meditate and reflect on what was the genocide of Armenians in the humanity of history and perpetuate the memory of having these innocent victims. »
Beatrice Ananyan, President of Blue Cross Armenians of France will point specifically “the rights violated, robbed” of Armenian women, “first target of the plan to exterminate the Armenians. Thousands of women murdered, deported, disappeared. Thousands of women stolen, raped, married to their executioners. Thousands of women abandoned, forgotten. “But women, who among the survivors overcoming despair, will engage in Armenia’s liberation struggle in 1918.” They have found the courage to transmit life and memory. For them, we women of Armenian origin, in France today, we wanted to include this legacy forever in the Earth, trees or roses, symbols of our amputated genealogy of life and rebirth and our roots in the host country that was France. »
The Ambassador of Armenia Viguen Tchitetchian, has congratulated his side and thanked Blue Cross for his action in this symbolic year of the Armenian genocide. He also thanked the mayor of the 8th arrondissement with special attention for Anne Hidalgo accompanying, as Mayor of the capital, the events related to the genocide centennial. For the ambassador, March 8 will “unforgettable”. “A great demonstration in the struggle for human dignity. Beauty roses against barbarism. Memory roses against denial. Goodness of roses against intolerance on the other. “He has said. Then quoting one of the outstanding thoughts of comedian Pierre Dac (1893-1975), he said: “If the gray matter was more pink, the world would be less dark thoughts.”
Anne Hidalgo, this is, as always, “intense moments when we recall the memory.” She warmly thank Blue Cross Armenian de France behind this wonderful idea to plant a hundred roses in honor of Armenian women who have died in the genocide of Armenians “, recalling that Paris would be extremely engaged in this cycle of commemorations. Speaking of Armenian roots planted in Paris and in France, metaphor to that of roses, Anne Hidalgo say that they “gave good fruit and beautiful flowers. They gave a highly engaged community of women and men. Committed to the values of the Republic. Values that resonate from Paris to Yerevan and beyond […] A community is a source of pride for all and we all […] We share this idea that to build a country in which your ancestors planted their roots, found refuge, found protection; must be built with pride in its origins. She adds she completes the identity of this beautiful beautiful people of France that we build together. »
The Mayor of Paris expressed his admiration for the Armenian community bringing these values and this story with energy, gently but determination. This inauguration in honor of women who have died in the genocide of the Armenians is for her iconic. Because the first victims of crimes of barbarism of war, is often women and children. In that “this day is symbolic for the start of the Armenian genocide commemorations honoring the women,” she said.
“We came to say that this genocide, the first genocide of the twentieth century, unfortunately, gruesomely inspired other genocides of the twentieth century. “Evoking the Holocaust and the genocide in Rwanda, Anne Hidalgo says,” I know you are very present in this memory of peoples and very present without causing memories of competition.
About Eastern Christians massacred in the name of ideology, it says that “the East is no longer the East. The East is what it is because there are minorities, including Christians of the East.
They are alive
In tribute “to women who could not see their children grow up, those who died in the terrible suffering and those who passed this memory, we say, with roses, this March 8, International Women’s Day, you are with us and you are alive. Evidence that those who committed the genocide could not get their way. In this city that has universal values that resonate with the values of our country. In this city, today we say to all women who could not see the beautiful sunrise in the aftermath of the genocide, we tell them that through you, through us, through the values that are ours, and through this beautiful garden and the roses, they very much alive in the heart of our city and our heart. »
In the interview, Anne Hidalgo condemned Holocaust denial and support the attitude of the President “who is firmly engaged with the Armenians, including international justice to condemn Holocaust denial. Besides a part of Turkish civil society also accompanies this movement for memory and truth. Without truth, it is difficult to project into the future. We see that there is this desire to deny. It’s a way to kill even those who have died and those who survived. This is not acceptable. Humanity needs to watch what she was capable of generating lucidly, that is the worst barbarities. We need to deconstruct the process that still yielding groups of countries to want to wipe out humanity of other groups and other countries. I think as you Christians of the East. They are one of the essential elements of the balance of the East. we must deconstruct this barbarity, deconstruct these terrorists processes, the processes that deny the value and dignity of man. »
Jean Eckian + Photos