Paris paid tribute to Charles Aznavour during a national solemn ceremony today.
This morning, politicians and celebrities gathered near the site of Napoleon’s tomb in the courtyard of Les Invalides, where French president Emmanuel Macron welcomed Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Former French Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande and actor Jean-Paul Belmondo were among those attending the ceremony.
Aznavour, born to Armenian parents who fled to Paris in the 1920s, became one of the Armenian diaspora’s most recognized voices and a vocal defender during a performing career spanning eight decades.
Covered by a French tricolor flag, Aznavour’s coffin arrived in the courtyard carried by military personal to the sound of a traditional Armenian tune. A spray of red, blue and orange flowers - the colors of the Armenian flag - was then laid close to the casket.
"Every Armenian sees him as a close relative. Because Aznavour is the one who lifted Armenia to the roof of the world," AP cited Pashinyan as saying.
Speaking after Pashinyan, Macron said that "for so many decades, (Aznavour) has made our life sweeter, our tears less bitter."
The ceremony ended with a rendition of Aznavour's hit "Emmenez-Moi," which was played as his coffin was carried away.
Aznavour passed away on October 1 at the age of 94 at one of his homes, in the village of Mouries, north of Marseille.
