On April 16, on the initiative of Mayor of Marseilles, Senator Jean-Claude Gaudin two posters with notion “1915-2015: Centenary of the Armenian Genocide” were opened at the facade of the Building of Marseilles Municipality. A year 2015 is declared a year of Armenia in Marseilles, and numerous exhibitions, concerts, conferences and other events, dedicated to the Centenary will be organized throughout the year.

President of Urban Community of Marseille Provence Métropole Guy Teissier, Mayor of Nice, MEP Christian Estrosi, MEP of the European Parliament Renaud Muselier, MP of Parliament of France Valerie Boyer, Consul of Armenia to Marseilles Samvel Lalayan, Consuls General accredited to Marseilles, Mayors of other cities, representatives of regional, department and community authorities, Parliamentarians of France, politicians, public and cultural figures, representatives of the Armenian community, journalists and numerous foreign visitors were in attendance.

In his remarks, Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin mentioned that commemoration of victims of the Armenian Genocide was always of an importance to the Marseilles residents, with 80000 Marseilles Armenians, Marseilles is the largest Armenian city of France. Jean-Claude Gaudin welcomed Pope Francis’s April 12 message, in which he mentioned 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Resolution, adopted on April 15 by the European Parliament on the eve of the Centenary, laws, passed by state and national parliaments of different countries recently, in which Armenian Genocide committed in the Ottoman Empire was recognized. The Mayor reaffirmed that tragedy committed against Armenians in the Ottoman Empire is genocide, and expressed confidence that France will pass а law, that will enable punishment for denial of acts of genocide and crimes against humanity. He also noted that on the eve of the Centenary, paying tribute to the memory of 1.5 million innocent victims, similar posters would be opened at the facades of buildings of Marseille district administrations.

The event was widely covered in the French media. An extended article, entitled “Municipality provides its assistance to Armenians” was published in edition of renowned “La Provence” newspaper’s edition.