April 21, 2005 - 14:36 AMT
ABOUT 50 FRENCH TOWNS TO COMMEMORATE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Commemoration events dedicated to the 90-the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will be held in about 50 towns of France. Liturgies will be chanted, evenings of memory and memorial attendances will be organized. Representatives of central and local authorities are also expected to take part in the events. On April 23 thousands of Parisians will process to the Triumphal Arch to the monument to the Unknown Soldier. Armenian Ambassador to France and Jacques Chirac's representative will light an eternal fire; then hymns of Armenia and France will sound. Political figures, deputies, senators, outstanding persons and representatives of the Armenian community will take part in the commemoration ceremony. On April 24 Cardinal of Paris Andre Vingt-Trois will chant a liturgy for the Armenian Genocide victims in Notre-Dame de Paris. A solemn commemoration ceremony with the participation of officials and thousands of French citizens will also be held at the monument to Komitas erected in the center of Paris. After that the procession will make for the Turkish Embassy.