The metropolitan and city officials along with the Armenians of Nice gathered at City Hall on September 27 at 6 PM.
In the presence of the Nice delegation that traveled to Armenia and the Armenians of Nice, Christian Estrosi expressed his support for the community. Indeed, last week, the Azerbaijani dictatorship launched a new offensive that resulted in over 200 deaths and 400 injuries. This situation has been ongoing for nearly three years now.
The mayor of Nice strongly condemned these attacks: “Azerbaijan has the intent to start an ethnic cleansing against Armenians. This is unacceptable.” Strong words that, according to him, don’t seem to move the international community.
He also criticized the Russians for not fulfilling their role as protectors. A role that should normally be cemented in an agreement between the two countries.
A national fundraising campaign is set to begin: “This campaign has Nice as its starting point but will be extended to raise awareness of what is happening in Armenia.”
For the mayor, “everyone must do what they can on their own scale to raise international awareness.” He finally condemned the actions of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, accusing him of influencing Azerbaijani leaders and concluding with a call for solidarity between the different parts of the Armenian community of Nice.
A Critical Situation
Anthony Borré, the first deputy mayor of Nice, and Magali Altounian, deputy responsible for the city’s outreach, were part of the Nice delegation present in the country on the day the bombings began. The officials had just visited the 1915 genocide memorial.
When they learned at the table about the resumption of bombings, they immediately offered their moral support to the Armenians present there. Maguy Georgian, the president of the Armenian home of Nice, called on France and French journalists to review their perspective on Nagorno-Karabakh.
“No, not all inhabitants of this region are terrorists; there are Armenians like us living on these lands.” Thousands of people still live in this region. Most are located in the city of Stepanakert, which has been under blockade for nine months now.
The corridor for food aid connecting Armenia with the city has been closed. Militarily, on the morning of Thursday, September 27, the self-proclaimed Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh announced its dissolution from January 1, 2024. This represents a defeat for Armenia, which fears that Bakou’s intentions do not stop at the border.
“After Goris, it’s the road to Yerevan; if they enter there, everything will be over.” A critical situation that the city of Nice supports.
In agreement with the University Hospital Center (CHU), the hospital in Goris will receive medical supplies. This city has welcomed the most refugees since the beginning of the conflict.
