PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Church Canadian Diocese
Contact: Dn. Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Ave., Outremont-Montreal, H2V 3H2
Email: [email protected]
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April 22, 2010
Canada Reaffirms Its Strong Position on the Armenian Genocide of 1915
OTTAWA -April 21, 2010: On the occasion of the 95th. Anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide, the Parliament of Canada once again expressed
its resolute support for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Six
years to the day of the April 21, 2004, adoption of Motion 380
recognizing the Armenian Genocide as a Crime against Humanity, members
of the House of Commons received the statements of affirmation
presented by the four major political parties of Canada with a
standing ovation.
Mr. Thomas Mulcair MP for Outremont and deputy leader of the New
Democratic Party, representing the NDP, declared `…95 years ago, the
world remained silent as over 1.5 million Armenian men, women and
children were murdered. Just a few years ago, the House passed a
motion clearly stating the TRUTH and condemning this act as a crime
against humanity. Les nouveaux-démocrates sont solidaires de la
communauté arménienne dans sa volonté de souligner et de
commémorer un des chapitres les plus horribles de l’histoire de
l’humanité…’
Ms. Nicole Demers, MP for Laval spoke on behalf of the Bloc Québecois
and said `…Il y a 95 ans, le peuple arménien subissait le premier
génocide du XXe siècle, lequel a fait plus d’un million de victimes
dans la population arménienne…De plus, comme nous l’avons vu Ã
plusieurs reprises au cours des dernières années, les Arméniens
doivent continuer à se battre et à se défendre contre de fausses
allégations, entretenues pour éviter d’avoir à accepter la vérité
du génocide.’
The Honourable Irwin Cotler, former Minister of Justice and renowned
professor of law and director of McGill University’s Human Rights
Program from 1973 to 1999, and Member of Parliament for Mount Royal,
spoke on behalf of the Liberal Party. He stated that `…On the 95th
anniversary of the Armenian genocide, which the House has recognized,
scholars have documented and the anguished testimony of survivors has
affirmed, the whole reminds us of the dangers of indifference and
inaction in the face of incitement and mass atrocity, of the dangers
of a culture of impunity and of the dangers of revisionism and denial
that led Hitler to remark, as he embarked on the Nazi genocide, `Who
today remembers the Armenians?’ We remember. We bear witness. As we
say on occasions such as these: Jamais plus, never again. Jamais plus
pour les Arméniens, jamais plus pour qui que ce soit!”
Mr. Harold Albrecht, President of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary
Friendship Group and Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga,
spoke on behalf of he Conservative Party. He stated that `Mr. Speaker,
I rise today as Chair of the Canada-Armenia Friendship Group to
remember the Armenian Genocide of 1915. It is important not only to
honour the memory of those who died nor to simply acknowledge what has
passed, but also to understand that the recognition of these tragic
events can be a starting point to move forward in improved
relationships and understanding between present day Turkey and
Armenia. The Armenian Genocide was recognized by the Senate in 2002,
by this House in 2004, and first commemorated by the Government of
Canada in 2006. The Armenian Canadian community has contributed
greatly to Canada’s culture and economy. I applaud their efforts to
acknowledge their past while looking forward to the future to build
bridges based on mutual respect. Mr. Speaker, by recognizing and
remembering the Armenian Genocide, we should all be motivated to do
everything in our power to ensure that such a terrible tragedy never
happens again.’
The Joint Committee for the Commemoration of the 95th Anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide, expresses its heartfelt gratitude to the
spokespersons representing the New Democratic, Bloc Québecois,
Liberal, and Conservative parties. On behalf of the Canadian-Armenian
community, our highest respects and esteem are extended to Mr. Harold
Albrecht, the Honourable Irwin Cotler, Ms. Nicole Demers and
Mr. Thomas Mulcair for their integrity and their commitment to the
cause of human rights and genocide recognition. Their sincere and
direct statements on the occasion of the 95th Anniversary are a
reconfirmation of the truth and the historic vote of the Parliament of
Canada.
Most importantly, we commend the steadfast acknowledgements of today’s
speakers for their statements declaring the historical facts to be
true and their condemnation of the deniers of the Armenian
Genocide. Regrettably, at the behest of Turkey, the deniers still
command a voice on the international stage, which threatens the voice
of justice. With increasing awareness of the indisputable specifics of
the history of the Armenian Genocide, the pursuit of the practice of
denial will ultimately be challenged and the historical truths will be
acknowledged.