Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
April 25, 2006
Contact Aris Babikian
(613) 235-2622
Ottawa – Dr. Vagharch Ehramdjian, Chairman of the Armenian National
Committee of Canada, sent a thank you letter to the Prime Minster of Canada,
the Right Honourble Stephen Harper expressing the gratitude and appreciation
of the Canadian-Armenian Community for Canadian Government’s and the Prime
Minister’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Attached you will find the full text of the letter:
April 25, 2006
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, MP
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Langevin Block
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A2
Dear Prime Minister,
On behalf of the Canadian-Armenian community, I would like to take the
opportunity to thank you for your moral fortitude in recognizing the
Armenian Genocide. Your April 21st statement on the eve of the 91st
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and Hon. Peter McKay’s response,
during Question Period, is an honourable and courageous policy shift. The
statements 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’s resolutions. Your historic statement will finally conciliate the
Canadian-Armenian community and start the healing process.
This is the first time that the head of the Federal Government in Canada has
issued such a policy statement on the Armenian Genocide. Through your
statements you steadfastly upheld your party’s and your own position during
the House of Commons debate and vote on Motion M-380 in 2004.
Furthermore, the Government’s Genocide recognition honoured not only the
memory 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) have also recognized the Armenian Genocide.
Your statement and your government’s observance of a minute of silence in
memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide demonstrates, once again,
that truth and justice will prevail over short-term economic gains or
political expediency. Your government’s policy will send a clear message to
authoritarian and undemocratic leaders, that Canada and the free world will
always stand up for human rights and will not tolerate neither ethnic
cleansing nor genocide wherever they may occur.
We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the tireless efforts
and pivotal contribution your party members – Hon. Jason Kenney and Gary
Goodyear – made to inform their colleagues about the historical facts of the
Armenian Genocide.
We are very pleased to see our close co-operation, since 2004, culminating
in such a momentous outcome. We are confident that our future co-operation
will continue to contribute to the advancement and betterment of not only
our community and your Government but also to that of all Canadians.
The Canadian-Armenian community is proud of its government. Once again, on
behalf of our community and the Armenian National Committee of Canada, its
chapters and the thousands of supporters all over our country, we would like
to thank you and commend you for your courageous leadership and your
integrity.
Respectfully,
Dr. Vagharch Ehrmadjian
Chairman
-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.
Regional Chapters
Montréal- Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge – St. Catharines –
Windsor- Vancouver
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress