www.armenian.ch

[iminhokis]

> Armenian National Committee of Canada
>
> Ottawa, ON
> 130 Albert St., Suite 1007
> Ottawa, ON
> KIP 5G4
> Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
>
> April 21, 2006
>
> Contact: Aris Babikian
> (613) 235-2622
>
> The Government of Canada Recognizes the Armenian Genocide
>
> Ottawa – On the eve of 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, The
> Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, on
> behalf of the Government of Canada, issued a statement recognizing the
> Armenian Genocide. The statement brought the policy of our executive
> branch of government on the Armenian Genocide in line with the House
> of Commons and the Senate of Canada resolutions.
>
> This is the first time that the head of the Federal Government in
> Canada has issued such a policy statement on the Armenian Genocide. By
> issuing the statement the Prime Minister and the government
> steadfastly upheld their previous stand during the House of Commons
> debate and vote on Motion M-380. Furthermore, the Government statement
> honoured not only the memories of the victims of the Armenian Genocide
> but also the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Canadians. In
> addition to the Canadian Senate and the House of Commons, the three
> largest provinces (Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia) also
> recognize the Armenian Genocide.
>
> In his statement, issued to the Armenian National Committee of
> Canada, the Prime Minister
>
> stated:
>
> “I would like to extend my sincere greetings to all of those marking
> this sombre anniversary of the Medz Yeghern.
>
> Ninety-one years ago the Armenian people experienced terrible
> suffering and loss of life. In recent years the Senate of Canada
> adopted a motion acknowledging this period as “the first genocide of
> the twentieth century,” while the House of Commons adopted a motion
> that “acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemns this act
> as a crime against humanity.” My party and I supported those
> resolutions, and continue to recognizethem today.
>
> We must never forget the lessons of history,nor should we allow the
> enmities of history to divide us. The freedom, democracy, and human
> rights enjoyed by all Canadians are rooted in our mutual respect for
> one another.
>
> I join with you today in remembering the past I encourage you to
> continue honouring your forefathers by building a bright future for
> all in Canadians.”
>
> Dr. Vagharch Ehramdjian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee
> of Canada (ANCC), said: “The Prime Minister’s and his government
> colleague’s moral fortitude demonstrates once again that truth and
> justice will prevail over short term economic gains or political
> expediency. The Prime Minister’s statement is a clear massage to the
> despots of the world that Canada and the free world will not tolerate
> genocide and ethnic cleansing.”
>
> For over 30 years the ANCC and its regional chapters have worked
> diligently to keep the Armenian Genocide issue on the agenda of the
> Canadian government and make it an important part of the public and
> political discourse in our country.
>
> -30-
>
> The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
> grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
> network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
> affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
> the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of
> issues.

______________


Page 1
April 19, 2006
Statement from Prime Minister on Day of Commemoration of Armenian Genocide
I would like to extend my sincere greetings to all of those marking this sombre
anniversary of the Medz Yeghern.
Ninety-one years ago the Armenian people experienced terrible suffering and loss of life.
In recent years the Senate of Canada adopted a motion acknowledging this period as
“the first genocide of the twentieth century,” while the House of Commons adopted a
motion that “acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemns this act as a
crime against humanity.” My party and I supported those resolutions and continue to
recognize them today.
We must never forget the lessons of history, nor should we allow the enmities of history to
divide us. The freedom, democracy, and human rights enjoyed by all Canadians are
rooted in our mutual respect for one another.
I join with you today in remembering the past and I encourage you to continue honouring
your forefathers by building a bright future for all Canadians.
Sincerely,
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada


___________________________


April 21, 2006 Contact: Aris Babikian

(613) 235-2622



The Government of Canada Recognizes the Armenian Genocide

Ottawa – On the eve of 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, The Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, on behalf of the Government of Canada, issued a statement recognizing the Armenian Genocide. The statement brought the policy of our executive branch of government on the Armenian Genocide in line with the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada resolutions.

This is the first time that the head of the Federal Government in Canada has issued such a policy statement on the Armenian Genocide. By issuing the statement the Prime Minister and the government steadfastly upheld their previous stand during the House of Commons debate and vote on Motion M-380. Furthermore, the Government statement honoured not only the memories of the victims of the Armenian Genocide but also the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Canadians. In addition to the Canadian Senate and the House of Commons, the three largest provinces (Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia) also recognize the Armenian Genocide.

In his statement, issued to the Armenian National Committee of Canada, the Prime Minister

stated:

“I would like to extend my sincere greetings to all of those marking this sombre anniversary of the Medz Yeghern.

Ninety-one years ago the Armenian people experienced terrible suffering and loss of life. In recent years the Senate of Canada adopted a motion acknowledging this period as “the first genocide of the twentieth century,” while the House of Commons adopted a motion that “acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against humanity.” My party and I supported those resolutions, and continue to recognize them today.

We must never forget the lessons of history, nor should we allow the enmities of history to divide us. The freedom, democracy, and human rights enjoyed by all Canadians are rooted in our mutual respect for one another.

I join with you today in remembering the past I encourage you to continue honouring your forefathers by building a bright future for all in Canadians.”


Dr. Vagharch Ehramdjian, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC), said: “The Prime Minister’s and his government colleague’s moral fortitude demonstrates once again that truth and justice will prevail over short term economic gains or political expediency. The Prime Minister’s statement is a clear massage to the despots of the world that Canada and the free world will not tolerate genocide and ethnic cleansing.”

For over 30 years the ANCC and its regional chapters have worked diligently to keep the Armenian Genocide issue on the agenda of the Canadian government and make it an important part of the public and political discourse in our country.

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues.

[iminhokis]

Agence France Presse
21 avril 2006 vendredi 9:31 PM GMT

Le Premier ministre canadien salue la commemoration du genocide
armenien

OTTAWA 21 avr 2006


Le Premier ministre canadien Stephen Harper a salue vendredi tous
ceux qui commemorent le genocide armenien, soulignant qu'il ne faut
"jamais oublier les lecons de l'Histoire, ni permettre a ses
inimities de nous diviser".

"J'aimerais saluer sincèrement toutes les personnes qui marquent le
sombre anniversaire du Medz Yeghern", a declare M. Harper.

Il a rappele que le Senat du Canada avait adopte il y a plusieurs
annees "une motion pour reconnaître cette periode en tant que premier
genocide du vingtième siècle, tandis que la Chambre des communes
adoptait une motion qui reconnaît le genocide armenien de 1915 et
condamne cet acte comme crime contre l'humanite". "Mon parti et moi,
nous avons appuye ces resolutions et continuons de le faire
aujourd'hui", a ajoute le Premier ministre dans une declaration.

"Je me joins a vous aujourd'hui pour me souvenir du passe tout en
vous encourageant a continuer d'honorer vos ancetres en bâtissant un
avenir brillant au Canada", a-t-il conclu a l'adresse de ses
concitoyens d'origine armenienne.

Les massacres et deportations d'Armeniens sous l'empire Ottoman, de
1915 a 1917, ont fait 1,5 million de morts, selon les Armeniens,
entre 300.000 et 500.000, selon Ankara, qui rejette categoriquement
la qualification de genocide.