YEREVAN. – A park in the center of Yerevan was renamed after French naytional hero Missak Manouchian during a solemn ceremony with the participation of presidents of Armenia and France (photos).

In his opening remarks, President Serzh Sargsyan noted that the planned speeches were removed from the agenda because of rainy weather in Yerevan.

However, it stopped raining when the ceremony began. Francois Hollande noted that “the strength of Armenia-France friendship made the sun come up again”. 

In his remarks, the French leader recalled that Manouchian was a genocide survivor and went to France in search of a bright future.

“But fascism darkened it, and he went to protect the independence of his new country and died for the sake of France,” Hollande said, naming Manouchian “a symbol of Armenia-France friendship”.

The presidents toured the park and talked to citizens who came to welcome Francois Hollande.