French minister pays homage at war memorial in Puducherry

Visiting French minister for foreign and European affairs Michelle Alliot Marie today paid homage at the foot of 'Unknown Soldier' at the war memorial maintained by the French government on the Beach Road in Puducherry.

The Memorial is dedicated to the French soldiers who laid down their lives in the first World War (1914-1918).

French consul general in Puducherry Pierre Fournier and two representatives of French nationals Tirou Ramachandran and Shankar Vazhumuni, elected from Puducherry, a former French colony, to the French assembly for Overseas French citizens, office bearers of the retired French military personnel's associations and officials were among those present.

Marie later declared open the renovated block in the precincts in the French government-run higher secondary school (Lycee Francais) and addressed the students and staff.