Saturday, June 28 at 11 am, the great hall of the City Council of Valencia had become too small for quarantine association leaders, politicians and personalities from Armenia to attend the first meeting to consider the action to be taken in Valencia, and the Romans region for the organization of actions in the framework of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 1915. The meeting was initiated by the Mayor of Valencia, and Nicolas Daragon Assistant Annie Koulaksezian-Romy, delegated to the cultural heritage and the organization of events of the centenary of genocide. Also present were other elected Armenian Valencia, Franck Diratzinian-Daumas, assistant community life and socio-cultural as well as councilors and Nathalie Georges Rastklan Iliozer.

For the occasion were invited to the preparatory meeting, Alexis Govciyan, First Deputy Mayor of Paris 9th, regional adviser and coordinator of the organization of events related to the genocide in 2015, Michael Cazarian President for the Central Region (Rhône- Alpes) of the Coordination Council of Armenian Associations of France, as well as the coordinator Raffi Krikorian (Chairman central region of the Mission 2015 CCAF). The primary objective of this meeting was the establishment of a local organization for consultation and coordination with the CFC program developed at the national level for the centenary of genocide.

The Mayor of Valencia and President of the Urban Community Nicolas Daragon was first thanked the audience for having responded massively to the invitation. “I wanted to put in place for events commemorating the 100th anniversary of Armenian genocide, a Council of Elders of the City of Valencia. This celebration has a political significance and should return a strong message condemning the denial of the Armenian genocide (…) associations and individuals must work together for the same project, “said Nicolas Daragon.

Annie Koulaksezian-Romy “Memory is important. The 100th anniversary of the genocide is important for the future of our children. We must pool our strengths and resources for strong and sustainable actions. The Mayor of Valencia wanted a large gathering of the Armenian community for coordinated action with the establishment of a genuine working platform. We need to make this centennial commemoration of the genocide openness to non-Armenians to communicate and share more. “Echoing Mayor Annie Koulaksezian Romy-called” work constructively towards a common future. “

Alexis Govciyan National President of “Mission 2015” CFC presented the committee responsible for the commemoration of the centenary of 2015. “We have a national organization logo, forget-me is a flower called in English” do not forget me not “which is the emblem of the global commemoration of 2015. At the center of this flower is the black point of genocide. Surrounded by 12 columns representing the 12 regions of Armenia columns of the genocide memorial in Yerevan. Then lighter colors represent the outward and communication. The 5 petals are 5 continents on which is the Armenian diaspora. And the color purple is the ecclesiastical which gives a spiritual side. “ Alexis Govciyan continued, “is the slogan” 2015 Memory and Justice. “ Among the topics, Friendship and the Franco-Armenian will be highlighted (…) we will organize special exhibitions throughout France on women and children during the genocide or genocide survivors. The Genocide Museum in Yerevan entrust us two exhibitions will run simultaneously in 20 cities of France. Among the exhibitions that of “the French press during the genocide” is particularly interesting. A 32-page booklet will be widely disseminated. It will also be contained in the February 2015 issue of the journal the History. Scientific conferences in the presence of forty researchers will be organized. The Centre for Armenian Memory will be inaugurated in Paris. These are just a few of the many events related to the centennial of genocide. “

The President of the CCAF Centre, Michael Cazarian first thanked all the City of Valencia for its initiative in this concert series of events. He raised his hand, the mobilization of associations Rhône-Alpes. “I am pleased to see the dynamics in Valencia with many projects for the 100th anniversary of the genocide,” said Michael Cazarian who greeted all people of good will by their work will contribute to make this a series of resounding centennial events. Michael Cazarian Raffi Krikorian then called the referent of the Central Region for the “Mission 2015” CCAF Centre to detail the events in the program.

Raffi Krikorian gave some details of the events in the program in the central region which includes nine geographic poles or “regions”. “It is first of all with the focus on the cultural significance of these events that we organize these events (…) must occupy the ground locally and know what is happening. “he said. Raffi Krikorian emphasized a number of important appointments including a symposium on “territorial identity”. “All projects must be budgeted,” he said, because “without a budget it is difficult to carry out a project.”

It is precisely by referring to the important role of funding projects that Michael Cazarian said “the city of Lyon, with its Mayor, committed and Villeurbanne (…) we have a very favorable response at cities. “

Annie Koulaksezian-Romy invited the audience to a lunch break … Armenian specialties. Then began the work session began. Alexis Govciyan, Raffi Krikorian led with a round of projects. Four referents were proposed to relay and coordinate events in the region of Valencia and Romans under the label events in 2015 CFC.

Krikor Amirzayan in Valencia, text and photo report