“The first responsibility is to look at the crime in front: yes, it was genocide” Manuel Valls held a strong speech in April 24, 2015 he himself described as a “historic”. Facing a crowd of thousands of people carrying Armenian flags and placards “memory, justice and reparation,” French Prime Minister recalled that “France is always on the side of the victims.”

And “victims today are also the Christians of the East.” Before the Komitas statue (8th arrondissement of Paris), he called for “be especially vigilant to the fate of Syrian Armenians.” “Once again, the Armenians are persecuted because they are Armenians. Close your eyes would be guilty, “he said to applause from an audience that has sometimes waited several hours to be present in this first commemoration of genocide centennial. Many celebrities were there to remember, including Harlem Désir, Jean-Marc Todeschini, Serge and Arno Klarsfeld, Nikos Aliagas Ambassador Viguen Tchitetchian Alexis Govcyan, Chantal Jouanno, Nathalie Koscuisko-Morizet, Patrick Devedjian, Philippe Kaltenbach, René Rouquet Luc Carvounas or Pauline Véron.

In this special year, Anne Hidalgo recalled that a large-scale exhibition will open to the public next Tuesday. The mayor of Paris is committed in the name of the capital, to “speed the movement for recognition of the genocide by supporting the criminalization of its denial.”

This wish was mentioned in the speech of François Hollande that morning in Yerevan. A speech Mourad Papazian, co-president of the American Chamber of Commerce, also called “history.” Pondering Turkish society today Mourad Papazian said: “Is it not in vain, 100 years later, to continue the denial of its history? Deny its own history, it’s private his own people a brighter future. “ Addressing the Prime Minister, he added, “we believe that the plan against racism and anti-Semitism that you announced could also include an anti-denial pane. It would be a new contribution of France to the Armenian cause. “