Armenian National Committee of Canada
Comité National Arménien du Canada
130 Albert St., Suite/Bureau 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622 Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
E-mail/courriel:national.office@anc-canad a.com

PRESS RELEASE

March 29, 2009
Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian

An Unprecedented 46 Parliamentarians Join Canada-Armenia Friendship Group

Ottawa -A record number of Canadian House of Commons and Senate members
have joined the newly-reconstituted Canada-Armenia Parliamentary
Friendship Group. During the March 25 Annual General Meeting, Harold
Albrecht (Kitchener-Conestoga, MP) was elected chair of the group.
Nicole Demers (Laval), Reymonde Folco (Laval-les Iles) and Peter Stoffer
(Sackville-Eastern Shore) were elected vice-chairs. Senators Con Di Nino
and Jerahmiel S. Grafstein, both of Ontario, were also elected to the
board.

The friendship group’s past-chair, Hon. Gary Goodyear, welcomed and
thanked the parliamentarians and said: "Members of the group, those from
the Armenian community and all those who contributed to this group’s
success deserve our praise."

Hon. Goodyear emphasized "Armenia needs the help of the outside world to
overcome its difficulties. Facing an unjust blockade by two of its
neighbours, a devastating earthquake in 1988 and a shortage of financial
and technical capital, Armenia has welcomed Canada’s support." He added
that Canada and Armenia are continuing to "pave a road to a peaceful and
prosperous relationship and I look forward to the results."

Hon. Goodyear praised the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC)
and its executive director, Aris Babikian, for the support they provided
him during his three-year tenure as head of the Canadian-Armenian group.

Following his election as chair, Mr. Albrecht thanked his colleagues for
their trust, and for the privilege granted to him as chair of the group.
He said: "Your interest in Canada-Armenia relations will continue to
give rise to a prosperous future that rests on the foundation of an
already peaceful and rewarding friendship. The work we do here is
important to the three million Armenians living in Armenia and to the
over five million in the rest of the world and particularly the 80,000
Canadian-Armenians who live in every province and territory of Canada."

Mr. Albrecht said that he extended "our gratitude for the contributions
of the Armenian people and all Canadians who are of Armenian descent."
He said that he considered "Canadian Parliament’s recognition and Prime
Minister Stephen Harper’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 1915
were important milestones in our journey forward. Armenians have
courageously worked to move beyond the pain of the past and work toward
a brighter future."

The new chair concluded his remarks by reassuring that "Canada stands as
a friend with Armenia. As an interparliamentary friendship group, we
have the privilege and duty to work together to build on our
accomplishments."

Following the election of the rest of the board, the new chair invited
Dr. Girair Basmadjian, president of the ANCC, to address the gathering.
After thanking the friendship group and its new board, Dr. Basmadjian
reminded new members that the task of the group has changed drastically
since its formation 24 years ago. "Today many more challenges face
Armenia and the friendship group. Establishing a Canadian embassy in
Armenia, the lingering effects of the devastating 1988 earthquake, the
illegal blockade of Armenia by Turkey and Azerbaijan, the peaceful
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict, and Canada-Armenia
bilateral relations are among many issues which will challenge the
group," said the head of ANCC.

Dr. Basmadjian concluded his remarks by wishing the friendship group
success, and pledged ANCC’s support and solidarity. In addition to Dr.
Basmadjian, the annual meeting was attended by Krikor Der Ghazarian,
Paul Douzjian, Roupen Kouyoumjian, Edward Agopian, and Aris babikian,
and board members of ANCC.

The meeting was followed by an ANCC-hosted reception to celebrate the
momentous event. During the reception many of the new members of the
friendship group had the opportunity to get acquainted with ANCC
representatives and with the committee’s 45 years of advocacy. The
parliamentarians also had the opportunity to discuss many of
Canadian-Armenian community’s concerns.

Also attending the gathering was Hagop Evereklian, chief of staff,
Ministry of Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculturalism.

In preparation for the annual general meeting, the ANCC and its
affiliated nation-wide chapters and supporters worked diligently in the
last few months to solicit the participation of the largest number of
parliamentarians possible in the friendship group. On March 11, an ANCC
delegation joined Executive Director Aris Babikian to launch a final
blitz in Ottawa to urge ministers, MPs and Senators to join the
Canadian-Armenian group. During the blitz ANCC members met more than 50
parliamentarians. The ANNC is confident that soon the friendship group’s
membership will reach sixty.

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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.

Regional Chapters/Sections régionales
Montréal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge – St.
Catharines – Windsor – Vancouver