26.05.2025


On May 26, a delegation led by French Minister Delegate for Europe, Jean-Noël Barrot, visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial, accompanied by Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ararat Mirzoyan.

The guests were welcomed by the Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, Edita Gzoyan, who accompanied them to the Armenian Genocide Memorial.

The Foreign Ministers of the two countries laid wreaths at the memorial commemorating the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The guests then placed flowers at the Eternal Flame and observed a minute of silence in memory of the innocent victims of the Genocide.

As part of the visit, a solemn ceremony was held behind the Memorial Wall at the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex, where a commemorative plaque was unveiled in honor of French Admiral Louis Dartige du Fournet, in gratitude and in commemoration of the 110th anniversary of the heroic resistance of Musa Dagh. The admiral’s relatives were also present at the event. It is worth noting that during the heroic resistance of Musa Dagh in 1915, Louis Dartige du Fournet served as Vice Admiral of the French Eastern Mediterranean Fleet and, risking his military career and without awaiting orders from the French government, independently decided to assist the Armenians engaged in an unequal struggle. As a result, more than 4,000 Armenians from Musa Dagh were rescued and relocated to the Port Said refugee camp in Egypt.

In her speech, AGMI Director Edita Gzoyan noted that this is a historic day in the shared history of the Armenian and French peoples. One hundred and ten years after the Armenian Genocide and the self-defense of Musa Dagh, the Armenian people express their gratitude to the French admiral who saved around 4,000 Armenians during the Genocide. For the first time in over 13 years, soil brought from Dartige du Fournet’s grave is being added to the Memorial Wall of the Armenian Genocide Memorial, along with the installation of his commemorative plaque. Listening solely to the voice of his conscience, Dartige du Fournet saved 4,092 Armenians from extermination—an act for which the Armenian people remember him with deep gratitude.

The French Foreign Minister noted that today we pay tribute to Admiral Louis Dartige du Fournet and the sailors of France’s Third Squadron in the Mediterranean, who, under his command, saved the lives of more than 4,000 Armenians. At the same time, we honor the Armenians of Musa Dagh who, in 1915, chose the path of resistance over forced deportation by the Ottoman Empire, and managed to survive.

Armenia’s Foreign Minister also remarked that this ceremony is particularly meaningful to him, as he had once studied the history of the Armenian Genocide and the individuals who, risking their own lives, extended a helping hand to the Armenians during those tragic times.

More about Dartige du Fournet: https://genocide-museum.am/arm/fournet.php :