French delegation to commemorate Armenian genocide anniversary in Yerevan

YEREVAN, April 23. /ARKA /. A French delegation led by President of the Senate Gérard Larche is expected to arrive in Armenia to participate in the events commemorating the 106th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the press service of the National Assembly of Armenia said.

It said the French delegation is arriving at the invitation of the Speaker of the National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan. The delegation comprises the leaders of all political groups represented in the Senate.

The French delegation will meet with Mirzoyan, representatives of parliamentary factions and committees. Meetings with the Prime Minister, President of the Republic and the Catholicos of All Armenians are also scheduled.

The Armenian Genocide of 1915 is the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey t rejects accusations of the mass extermination of more than one and a half million Armenians during the World War I and reacts extremely painfully to criticism from the West regarding the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian Genocide is recognized by many states and a number of international organizations. The first country to recognize the Genocide in 1965 was Uruguay, followed by Cyprus, Russia, Greece, Canada, the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Lebanon, Belgium, France, Paraguay, Argentina, Sweden, Bolivia, Great Britain, Holland, Slovakia, Germany, Lithuania , Venezuela, Poland, Chile, Switzerland, Brazil, Luxembourg, Austria, Vatican, Czech Republic, Denmark, Portugal, as well as the interim government of Libya, 49 states and both houses of the US Congress, Syria, European Parliament, World Council of Churches .-- 0- -