On June 4-7, RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan paid a working visit to France to participate in the 24^th Global Summit of Women. The minister participated in the official opening ceremony of the Summit and discussed women’s role in economic development, their involvement in small and medium business and women’s employment during a roundtable discussion with other ministers. On the same day, Minister Hakobyan participated in meetings with France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Loran Fabius and French Prime Minister Manuel Vals. The next day, the minister participated in the gala awards for the 24^th Global Summit of Women.

During the visit to France, Hranush Hakobyan also had a meeting with employees of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in France during which she discussed the community’s issues and called the community’s attention to the French-Armenians’ participation in the programs carried out by the RA Ministry of Diaspora.

The minister also visited the center of the Mekhitarist Congregation in Sevres where an Armenian Genocide Memorial is set to be opened in 2015. Minister Hakobyan had a meeting with Archimandrite Harutioun Bzdigian and discussed issues on cooperation, after which she met with Prelate of the Holy Cross Catholic Church, Bishop Hovhannes Teyruzian and discussed the events dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. The Prelate affirmed the Catholic Church’s willingness to move the mobile historical and cultural values of Zmmar to Armenia and suggested gathering all renowned Diaspora Armenians in the Homeland on April 24, 2015, as well as holding the Armenian Genocide Commemoration events within the ten days following that.

On the last day, the minister met with co-chair of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France Ara Toranian and chairman of the regional committee coordinating the events dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Alexi Gevchyan. During the more than two-hour meeting held with the participation of RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France V. Chitechyan, the sides discussed in detail the events dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the dates and the likelihood of high-ranking French officials’ participation in the events.