MARSEILLE, JULY 1, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. An Unveiling ceremony of an Armenian khachkar (commemorative cross-stone) took place in the city of Marseille, France, on June 18. His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians presented it to the Governor of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur of France a year ago, as a token of friendship between the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the mentioned province. Hrach Aslanian, the head of the European Armenian Communities' Department of the RA Ministry of Diaspora, who took part in the ceremony of unveiling the khachkar, informed Hayern Aysor it took them a year to choose a place for the khachkar. It was at last decided to place it near the entrance of the building of the Governor's Office which is in the center of Marseille. Governor Michel Vauzelle, Province Council members and French parliamentarians, heads of local self-government structures, heads of all the Armenian organizations acting in the province, Archbishop Norvan Zakarian, the primate of the French diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, clergymen of the Armenian Catholic, Evangelic Churches were present at the ceremony of unveiling the khachkar. The head of the European Armenian Communities' Department of the RA Ministry of Diaspora read Minister Hranush Hakobian's address to the Governor of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur and to the local Armenian community at the ceremony of unveiling the khachkar. H. Aslanian said that the largest Armenian community of France is in that province: about 100 thousand Armenians live only in Marseille. The ceremony of opening the street after Hrant Dink was held in Marseille on June 12. His widow, Rakel Dink was present at the ceremony. In H. Aslanian's words, that street in the 12th Armenian-populated district of the city was named after the martyred chief editor of the Agos newspaper by the decision of the Marseille Mayor's Office. Marseille Mayor and French Senate Deputy Jean-Claude Gaudin, Agos reporter Aris Nalci, First Deputy Mayor of Marseille, Deputy of the National Assembly Roland Blum, Deputy of the National Assembly Valerie Boyer, Deputy Mayor, Marseille-Armenia organization head Didier Parakian, district head of the 11th, 12th districts of Marseille Robert Assante, district head of the 13th, 14th districts Garo Hovsepian were present at the ceremony of opening the street. In H. Aslanian's words, Jean-Claude Gaudin presented at the ceremony of opening the street after H. Dink the way of Agos former editor-in-chief struggle for human rights and freedom in Turkey, he also expressed assistance of the Marseille Mayor's Office to the Armenian community, as well as to R. Dink who continues her husband's activity. The Mayor mentioned with pride that one of Marseille streets will have H. Dink's name. R. Dink in her speech expressed gratitude for the support of Marseille and whole France. After the ceremony of opening the street after H. Dink, Marseille-Armenia organized a reception in Dink's honour at the Marseille Mayor's Office. Heads of all Armenian organizations participated in the reception. In H. Aslanian's words, a banquet dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Espoir pour l'Armenie (Hope for Armenia) organization took place in Marseille, on June 19. Senior pastor of the Union of Evangelical Churches in Armenia Rene Leonian, representatives of the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur Governor, Marseille District Head and Mayor, heads of all big local Armenian organizations were present at the banquet. The way passed by the organization, charitable programs implemented in Armenia which related particularly to repair of children's homes, cultural centers, financing of nursing homes in Spitak, Vanadzor, etc. were presented at the banquet. The event was held under famous duduk-player Levon Minasian's performances. The representative of the RA Ministry of Diaspora had a meeting with the Marseille Armenian Hamaskaine (National) School's administration and directorate. The head of the European Armenian Communities' Department of the RA Ministry of Diaspora stated that an arrangement was reached during the meeting that the school will become a "sister school" with Yeghegnadzor School N2 with a French bias. Besides, according to the arrangement, 45-50 pupils from three final classes of the Hamaskaine School will visit Armenia within the framework of the Come Home program of the RA Ministry of Diaspora in the second half of October, 2009 and will live in families of the Yeghegnadzor "sister" school pupils. Then Yeghegnadzor pupils will visit Marseille and live in French Armenian families. Meetings were also organized with representatives of the French Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Jeunesse Armenienne de France (Armenian Youth Union of France). The latter's 50-person dance group will arrive in Armenia on July 12. H. Aslanian also added that opening of the Armenian alphabet's wall-paintings was held at L'ecole des Soeurs Armeniennes Notre Dame du Sacre-Coeur (Armenian Catholic Sisters' School of Marseille) on June 4.

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