PARIS — Accompanied by his spouse Anna Hakobyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived in France on a working to attend the Second Paris Peace Conference and the 40th United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference.
The official reception was attended by UN Secretary General António Guterres, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Félix Tshisekedi, PRC Vice President Wang Qishan, Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie Louise Mushikiwabo, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and others.
On November 12, Pashinyan attended the opening of the Second Paris Peace Forum and a thematic discussion, at which he will deliver a speech. Prime Minister Pashinyan will present a symbolic gift to the Library of the Paris Peace Forum.
President of France Emmanuel Macron, Vice President of China Wang Qishan, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Félix Tshisekedi and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen delivered opening remarks at the Forum.
Pashinyan presented a symbolic gift to the Paris Peace Forum Library, a book by Hayk Demoyan about Armenian athletes in the Ottoman Empire.
Introducing the book, the premier said it is about Armenian sporting clubs and achievements in the Ottoman Empire before the 1915 Genocide. The book features photos of Armenian athletes who used to participate in sports, as well as advertisements which encouraged women to exercise. And it happened more than 100 years ago in the Ottoman Empire – a society absolutely intolerant to the women’s social and physical activity. Sporting clubs were established among Armenians against all odds and were contributing to the peace and peaceful coexistence between the Christian and the ruling Muslim Communities.
