Ottawa - Two Ministers, four Parliamentary Secretaries, thirty-nine members of the House of Commons and seven Senators attended the reception, on April 28, celebrating the 5^th anniversary of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the House of Commons. The momentous event, which took place in the West Block of the House of Commons was organized by the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC).

 

A large number of other Canadian politicians also attended the event to reaffirm their commitment to justice and to express their unwavering solidarity with the Armenian people in their struggle to fend off Armenian Genocide denial. The high stature of the attendees was particularly heartening since they were there despite the Turkish Government's recent recall of the Turkish Ambassador from Canada.

 

In addition to Parliamentarians, Ambassadors and other members of the diplomatic corps, NGO representatives, leading lights from Canadian journalism, academia and education, representatives of the Canadian Jewish Congress, Rwandan, Greek, Cypriot, and Kurdish community leaders also attended the celebration.

 

After the welcoming remarks of master of ceremonies Tina Soulahian, Dr. Girair Basmadjian, president of the ANCC, thanked the Parliamentarians for their political courage and moral strength in upholding their principles and voting in support of Armenian Genocide recognition. 

 

Harold Albrecht, Chairman of Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group, emphasized the importance of keeping the memory of the Armenian Genocide alive so as to prevent future genocides.  

 

Bloc Quebecois leader, Gilles Duceppe observed that because perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide went unpunished, the international community witnessed the repetition of this heinous crime in Germany, in Cambodia, in Rwanda and in Sudan. In the opinion of Mr. Duceppe reconciliation cannot take place without the recognition. 

 

Arman Akopian, The Charge d'affaires of the Republic of Armenia in Canada, thanked Canadian Parliamentarians and the Right Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, for their chivalrous recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

 

Thomas Muclair, addressed the celebrants on behalf of the New Democratic Party. He emphasized that, whoever dares to deny the Armenian Genocide in Canada, will have to face the National Democratic Party.

 

  

Hon. Gary Goodyear read Mr. Harper’s message to the gathering. He also said that he was proud to be a member of Prime Minister Harper’s cabinet, which recognized the Armenian Genocide and adopted it as government policy.

 

Senator Marcel Prud’Homme recalled his commitment and work in the last 45 years for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Canada.        

 

Madame Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, former Member of Parliament and sponsor of Motion M-380, said she was confident that truth will prevail and the Armenian people will get the justice, which they have been denied for so long.

 

Finally, Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism, concluded the list of the speakers by stating that he is proud that he has “followed the dictates of his conscious by co-sponsoring Motion M-380 to recognize the Armenian Genocide”. He praised the Canadian-Armenian community for its active participation and contribution to the Canadian mosaic and civil society.

 

At the conclusion of the reception, Parliamentarians who voted in favour of the passage of Motion M-380 were presented citations of appreciation from the ANCC President. 

 

A large contingent of Canadian-Armenians from Montreal, Laval, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Cambridge, St. Catharines, and Vancouver joined in the celebrations. 

 

Aris Babikian, executive director of ANCC, said: “It was quite a proud evening to see so many Parliamentarians attend this important evening. For so many politicians to defy Turkish Government threats and blackmail is very telling. Canadian legislators once again sent an unequivocal message to the Turkish Government that it will not get away with its denial campaign and it will be much more beneficial for the Turkish Government to halt its falsification of history and to engage the Armenian people in a genuine and sincere reconciliation process and start healing the wounds perpetrated by its predecessor’s action.”   

 

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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.

 

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Le CNAC est l'organisation politique canadienne-arménienne la plus large et influentielle. Collaborant avec une série de bureaux, chapitres et souteneurs à travers le Canada et des organisations affiliées à travers le monde, le CNAC s'occupe activement des inquiétudes de la communauté canadienne-arménienne.