French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to proclaim April 24 Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in France has deeply touched the Armenian people. Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan stated this in an interview with Le Figaro.

The Minister recalled that France formally recognized the Armenian Genocide in 2001.

“They wished to completely eradicate us [Armenians] from the face of the earth. [But] we have survived, strengthened and developed; this is a victory,” Mnatsakanyan added. “But, sadly, we still bear the consequences of the denial policy by Turkey. This denial is related not only to Armenians, but to all humanity.

“The Turkish president simply ‘threw out of the window’ the Zurich Protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations and opening of borders between Armenia and Turkey, and which were signed in 2009. We [Armenia] were faithful to those protocols, being ready to normalize relations with Turkey without preconditions.”