Armenia’s president has started his tour of Armenian communities worldwide amid violent protests from members of a Diaspora angry over plans to establish ties with Turkey.
French riot police are fighting back belligerent demonstrators in Paris. A few dozen shouted “No!” and punched riot shields before a planned event Friday with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.
Police dragged several protesters away kicking and screaming. Sargsyan did not show up.
The protesters are angry over the reconciliation plans with Turkey despite resolution of a dispute over the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire.
Armenians say the massacre was genocide. Turkey disputes this and says the death toll is inflated.
Sargsyan had lunch in Paris with crooner Charles Aznavour, one of France’s most famous Armenians, before meeting with members of the vocal Armenian community here.
After Paris, Sargsyan continues what is dubbed a “pan-Armenian tour” with visits to New York, Los Angeles, Beirut and Rostov-on-Don in Russia to discuss a planned meeting Oct. 10 when the Turkish and Armenian foreign ministers are expected to sign a deal to establish ties.
“What worries us are the terms of the accord, which make the Genocide into an abstraction,” said Laurent Vartanian of the Collectif Van, a French-Armenian association that encourages education about the killings, AP reported.
