ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF CANADA
COMITÉ NATIONAL ARMÉNIEN DU CANADA
3401 Olivar-Asselin
Montréal, Québec
H4J 1L5
Tél. (514) 334-1299 Fax (514) 334-6853
Communiqué de Presse – Press Release
July 15 juillet, 2005
Contacts: Shant Karabajak 514-334-1299
Roupen Kouyoumdjian 514-336-7095
Aris Babikian 416-317-8972
For immediate release:
Pour diffusion immédiate:
Canadian-Armenian Community Leaders Meet with the Toronto Star Editorial Board
Toronto- A delegation representing the Canadian-Armenian Community
met the Toronto Star editorial board to discuss issues of concern
to the Canadian-Armenian community. The Armenian Genocide, Canada-
Armenia bilateral relations, Nagorno Karabagh, and the establishment
of a Canadian Embassy in Armenia were among the issues discussed
during the June 28th meeting. Bob Hepburn, editorial page editor,
headed the five-member Toronto Star board. The Canadian-Armenian
community delegation included Aris Babikian, president, Armenian
National Federation of Canada (ANFC); Shaen Mirakian, of the Armenian
Community Centre of Toronto (ACC); and Vahan Ajemian, Armenian National
Committee of Toronto (ANCT).
A frank and open exchange of views took place during the one-hour
meeting.
`It was an important and constructive meeting,’ said Babikian. `We
had to update and sensitize the Toronto Star editorial board with
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian Community in light of recent
developments, especially after the House of Commons April 21, 2004
resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide,’ stated Aris Babikian,
ANFC president.
At the end of the meeting the Armenian delegation provided the
editorial board with books and documentation on the aforementioned
issues.
Since last year’s House of Commons resolution, the Armenian National
Committee of Canada and the Armenian National Federation of Canada
and their affiliated chapters in Montreal, Laval, Toronto, Hamilton,
Cambridge, St. Catharines, Kitchener, London, Guelph and Vancouver
have regularly contacted the Canadian media to inform them of the
House of Commons resolution and asked them to clarify their stand on
this important moral and ethical issue.
On January 14, 2004 ANCC was successful in securing a resolution from
the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada, which represent
over 400 newspapers and magazines, to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
In additional and due to the persistence, hard work and behind the
scenes efforts of ANCC and its members, The Globe and Mail and the
National Post now refer to the Armenian Genocide without ambiguity
and without quotes or the prefix `alleged’ in their editorials and
stories. ANCC members continue to be in touch with various Canadian
media reporters, columnists, editors, board members, publishers
and presidents.
`We firmly believe that the media has an important role to educate
and bring the truth of the Armenian cause to the Canadian public. With
that in mind, the ANCC has, over the years, established an excellent
relationship with Canadian media, based on mutual trust and respect,’
stated ANCC President Dr. Girair Basmadjian. `As in the past, we
intend to continue our communication with the Canadian media in an
open, objective and positive manners,’ said Dr. Basmadjian.
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