Armenian National Archive, Shoah Memorial of Paris to conduct studies for genocide prevention

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS. The National Archive of Armenia and the Shoah Memorial of Paris,France signed a cooperation agreement on September 24th which will contribute to exchange of archived documents and information regarding the studies of the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust and organization of joint exhibitions.

The agreement was signed at the Embassy of France in Yerevan by National Archive Director Amatuni Virabyan and Director of theShoah Memorial Jacques Fredj. Ambassador of France Jonathan Lacote was also present at the signing ceremony.

“Starting this year April the 24th is the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in France. The French are well aware of the Armenian Genocide, and their awareness is associated with the results of studies which were carried out in this area. Work is done on this subject in school and teacher training programs and institutions like the Shoah Memorial foundation,” the ambassador said.

According to Virabyan they have a rather big experience in archive activities, and they’ve also earlier cooperated with the French side. “Today, for the first time we are signing an agreement which is aimed at the preservation of the memories of the Armenian Genocide and academic studies, for such inhumane occurrences never to happen again,” he said.

The sides have already discussed the upcoming projects.

The idea behind the agreement belongs to the French side. Fredj visited Armenia in 2018 and expressed willingness to cooperate bilaterally after meeting Virabyan.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan