CANADA’S MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS REAFFIRMS GOVERNMENT POLICY ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, HOUSE OF COMMONS OBSERVES A MINUTE OF SILENCE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 25 2006

OTTAWA, APRIL 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Canada’s Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Peter Mackay, in response to Liberal MP Jim
Karygiannis’ (Scarborough-Agincourt) question, reaffirmed on April
24 Canadian Government’s policy on the Armenian Genocide. According
to the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC), last Friday the
Prime Minister of Canada issued a policy statement, recognizing the
Armenian Genocide. During April 24 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 Quebecois. 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. April 24 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.