Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
PRESS RELEASE
March 25, 2007
Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian
Tel. (613) 235-2622
The Canadian-Armenian community Grieves the passing of the Prime Minister of
Armenia
Ottawa-The Canadian-Armenian community is in shock at the passing of the
prime minister of Armenia, Andranik Margarian. Margarian, 56, a dissident
during the Soviet era, was appointed prime minister in May 2000, by
President Robert Kocharian.
Mr. Margarian passed away this morning (March 25) of a heart attack in his
apartment in Yerevan, Armenia.
Canadian-Armenian churches across the country organized requiems to mourn
the passing of the prime minister.
Doctor Vagarch Ehramdjian, chairman of the Armenian National Community of
Canada, sent a telegraph to the president of Armenia, expressing the
condolences the Canadian-Armenian Community.
In his letter, Dr. Ehramdjian said the Canadian-Armenian Community is
`deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Prime Minister Margarian.’ He
also asked the president to convey `our condolences to the prime minister’s
family and to the Armenian government.’
President Kocharian has appointed a commission to organize a state funeral
for late prime minister. The death of Margarian was unexpected. Just
yesterday he gave two interviews on Armenian TV.
The speaker of the Armenian National Assembly and the deputy head of the
Armenian Republican Party Tigran Torosian said: `The death of prime minister
and the chairman of the Armenian Republican Party Andranik Margarian is a
great loss for the country. Margarian was not only a great state and
political figure but he was also a person ready to listen to his opponents
and to every citizen.
`It is a great loss for all of us but I think that the party and his friends
must find the strength in themselves and do everything to complete the work
we have started together. It will be our best tribute to the memory of
Andranik Margarian.’
President of Russia Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Mr.
Kocharian, to Margarian’s family and to friends of the prime minister.
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Prime Minister Margarian’s Biography
Armenia’s Prime Minister Andranik Margarian, who was also the chairman of
the Armenian Republican Party, was born on June 12 in 1951 in Yerevan. In
1972 he graduated from the Yerevan Polytechnic University majoring in the
Faculty of Technical Cybernetics.
>From 1972 to 1974 he worked at the Yerevan branch of Scientific-Research
Institute of Gas Industry as a senior engineer. From 1977 to 1978 he worked
at the Scientific-Research Institute of Energy as chief engineer. From 1978
to 1979 he worked in the Energy-Technical Factory as head of department.
>From 1979 to 1990 he worked at the Information Counting Centre of the Trade
Ministry as the head of department of electronics.
>From 1990 to 1994 he was the head of the information department at the State
Department of Special Programs. From 1994 to 1995 he worked in Armenia’s
State Architectural University as junior scientist. In 1999 he was elected
member of parliament and headed the `Unity’ faction.
In 2000 Andranik Margarian was appointed prime minister of Armenia. He
remained in this office after the 2003 parliamentary elections hr led the
established political coalition.
Margarian promoted Armenia’s economic development and was speaking in favour
of establishment peace in the region.
He was awarded the `Garegin Nzhdeh’ medal by the Armenian Defense Ministry,
the `Aram Manukian,’ `Fridjof Nansen’ and `Vazgen Sargsian’ medals.
In June, 1992 he joined the Armenian Republican Party. In October of that
year, he was elected member of the council of the Republican Party. In
December 1993, he was elected the chair of the party’s council. Since then
he has held the same position.
Andranik Margarian was married and had two daughters, one son and five
grandchildren.
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