On November 5, the bust of fighter of the French Resistance Movement, national hero of France and recipient of the French Legion of Honor Missak Manouchian was unveiled near the cross-stone commemorating the victims of the Armenian Genocide during a grand ceremony held at Perdigie Central Park in the French city of Avignon. Among the attendees were Mayor of Avignon Cecil Hell, Consul of the Republic of Armenia in Marseille Samvel Lalayan, President of the Armenian-French Organization of Avignon Veronic Brouna-Mardoian, President of the Organization of Ex-French-Armenian Fighters, Colonel Hovsep Hovsepyan, Senators Claude Ot and Alain Dufeau, Deputies of the French National Assembly Michel Furnie-Arman and Julie Ober, sculptor of the bust Marcela Kratz, representatives of local and regional self-government bodies, heads of French-Armenian organizations, public and political figures, clergymen and several French-Armenians.

In her speech, Mayor of Avignon Cecil Hell presented the glorious past of Missak Manouchian and particularly emphasized the love and respect that he received by all Frenchmen in response to the great contribution that he made to the battle against Fascism.

In his speech, Consul Samvel Lalayan touched upon the friendly French-Armenian relations, the fruitful and large-scale activities of the Armenian community and the local authorities of Avignon, proof of which is also the unveiling of the bust of Missak Manouchian in Avignon. The Consul stated that any structure symbolizing the glorious past is aimed at providing the future generations with an education and inspiring them.

The performances by the military choir and orchestra were followed by the wreath-laying ceremony.

Afterwards, the Le Pandora Movie Theater of Avignon hosted the screening of Robert Gedikian’s film “Army of Crime”, which is devoted to Manouchian and his friends-in-combat.

The local presses provided wide coverage of the event.