YEREVAN (Armenpress)—French President Francois Hollande arrived in Armenia on Monday for a two-day visit to the country as part of a visit to the wider South Caucasus region. Hollande was greeted by the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan upon arrival with a welcoming ceremony.

 

Francois Hollande is expected to attend the opening of the Armenian-French Business Forum and visit the site designated for a future Carrefour store, the famous and sometimes controversial French international hypermarket’s first store in Armenia. The French President will also conduct the opening of a new park in Yerevan, the Misak Manushian Park, in memory of the prominent French-Armenian famous for his involvement in the Resistance Movement against the Nazi occupiers of France during World War II. Lastly, Hollande is expected to meet with the French community of Armenia at the French Embassy.

In October 2013, President Francois Hollande received the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan  in Paris. The two-day visit aims to further strengthen the friendly ties between Armenia and France. As the visit aims to put the existing economic and trade relations between the two countries on a higher level, Hollande arrived in Armenia accompanied by a large delegation of business leaders who will take part in the Armenian-French business forum.

On Monday, Presidents Hollande and Sargsyan visited the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial, laying flowers at the monument and honoring the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.

Later, Hollande will attend a concert by famous French-Armenian singer Charles Aznavour, taking place in Yerevan.

At the Presidential Palace, a state dinner will be held in honor of the French President.