PRESS RELEASE
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 24, 2006

Contact: Aris Babikian

(613) 235-2622

Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Reaffirms Government Policy on Armenian
Genocide,
House Of Commons Observes a Minute of Silence

Ottawa–The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Peter Mackay, in response to
Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis’s (Scarborough-Agincourt) question, reaffirmed
today Canadian Government’s policy on the Armenian Genocide.

Last Friday the Prime Minister of Canada issued a policy statement,
recognizing the Armenian Genocide. During today’s debate, Mackay stated that
the Government reaffirmed the motions of the Senate of Canada and the House
of Commons, recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

At the end of the Question Period the Speaker of the House invited the
members of the House to observe a minute of silence in memory of the victims
of the Armenian Genocide. All four party leaders were present during the
minute of silence observance.

Earlier in the day a delegation from the Armenian National Committee of
Canada (ANCC) and its regional chapters, headed by Hagop Der Khachadourian,
ANCC International, and Archbishop Khajak Hagopian, prelate of the Armenian
Church of Canada, visited the Armenian Embassy to lay a wreath at the
monument dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Later the charge
de’ affaires of the embassy, Michael Vartanyan, joined Armenian community
leaders to attend the House of Commons session where Genocide affirmation
statements were made by the representative of all political parties. MP Gary
Goodyear (Cambridge) spoke on behalf of the governing Conservative party;
Raymonde Folco (Laval-Les Iles) spoke on behalf of the Liberal Party, and
Nicole Demers (Laval) on behalf of Bloc Québécois.

The successes of the past few weeks were attained largely due to the
tireless efforts of the ANCC and its regional chapters. In the passed month
ANCC delegates met with representatives of the Government and other parties
to co-ordinate the commemoration of the 91st anniversary of the Genocide.
Today’s affirmation by the Minister of Foreign Affairs was the third
declaration, within a week by the Government, acknowledging the historical
reality of the Armenian Genocide.

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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.

Regional Chapters
Montréal- Toronto – Laval – Vancouver – Ottawa – Hamilton – Cambridge
St. Catharines – Windsor