WASHINGTON – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) presented its 2001 Freedom Award to France’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Francois Bujon de liEstang, during a formal presentation in the French Embassy in Washington, DC on the morning of Tuesday, May 29th.

The award presentation was made by ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian and ANCA Eastern Region Board member Maral Habeshian following a meeting with the Ambassador and his senior staff. The ANCA representatives presented the Ambassador with a plaque expressing the gratitude of the Armenian American community to the people of France, the French Republic and the French Parliament for their official recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

In January of this year, French President Jacques Chirac signed into law an Armenian Genocide resolution adopted overwhelmingly in both houses of the French Parliament. The French Parliament’s historic action was followed by measures recognizing the Armenian Genocide in the Italian and European Parliaments and by a powerfully worded statement by Pope John Paul II.

Among those joining Ambassador de liEstang, Hamparian, and Habeshian in the Ambassador’s office during the ceremony were Mr. Marc Abensour, Diplomat Counselor; Mr. Philip Autie, First Counselor; and Mr. Pierre Henri Guignard, Chief of Staff.

Upon presenting the Ambassador the ANCA Freedom Award, Habeshian noted that France has courageously announced to the whole world her decision to recognize the Armenian Genocide committed by Ottoman Turkish government. By taking this initiative, Habeshian continued, France took upon herself the noble duty of leading the international community toward a just resolution of this crime against humanity.

The Armenian National Committee of France, which had spent several years mobilizing the Armenian community of France in support of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, commented last November that its adoption was “a victory for the French people, the Armenian people and all mankind.”

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