Following the reception at the Elysee Palace by President Nicolas Sarkozy, a delegation of the National CCAF (Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France) met presidential hopeful Francois Hollande at his campaign headquarters on March 12.

The delegation included Michael Cazarian (Lyon), Pascal Chamassian (Marseille), Alexis Govciyan, Mourad Papazian and Ara Toranian (Paris), French journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Mr. Hollande reiterated his willingness to penalize denial of the Armenian Genocide. Presidential candidate also stated that if elected head of state, the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey would be one of the criteria for Turkey's membership in the European Union.

Hollande also voiced support for creation of a memorial-museum of Armenian Genocide in Paris planned in 2015 in the framework of the initiatives dated to 100th anniversary of this crime against humanity.