Marseille city hall lit in Armenian flag colors

PanARMENIAN.Net - Commemorations marking the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide began in Marseille with a symbolic lighting of the city hall in the colors of Armenia’s flag, emphasizing the Armenian community’s enduring presence and commitment to remembrance.

On April 22, the facade of Marseille’s Palais du Pharo was illuminated in Armenia’s tricolor, an initiative led by Mayor Benoît Payan in cooperation with the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of Southern France (CCAF Sud), according to Aravot.am.

A torchlight march organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation's youth branch took place on the evening of April 23. The following morning, April 24, a liturgy is scheduled at the Beaumont Church, followed by a march to the Genocide Memorial for an official ceremony. Later that day, participants will gather in front of the Turkish Consulate for a rally.

This year’s remembrance holds special significance in Marseille due to the initiation of a sister-city partnership with Yerevan. Mayor Payan is expected to visit Armenia’s capital soon to formalize the relationship.

In parallel, the three co-presidents of CCAF Sud—Azad Balalas-Kazandjian, Aurore Brunand, and Julien Haroutiounian—have called on children participating in the events to wear white as a symbol of peace and in honor of the innocent victims.