Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622
Fax (613) 238-2622
E-mail:[email protected]
F or Immediate Release
September 19,2006
Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian
Tel: (613) 235-2622
ANCC Participates in Global Day for Darfur Rally in Toronto
Ottawa, Sept. 19 – As a member of over 40 non-governmental
organization coalition, the Armenian National Committee of Canada
(ANCC) participated in a rally in Toronto on September 18, calling on
the Canadian Government and the UN to make Darfur a priority and to
commit resources to deploy UN forces o protect Darfur civilians.
The Toronto rally was part of a worldwide movement demanding that
governments end the ongoing ethnic cleansing in Darfur. Solidarity
events were organized in 57 cities in 41 countries.
Aris Babikian, executive director, ANCC, and representatives of the
Armenian National Committee of Toronto were present during the
two-hour rally. Many media outlets interviewed the ANCC executive
director to get the Canadian-Armenian community’s response to what
is happening in Darfur and of the importance of ANCC participation in
such a rally.
Master of ceremonies, Justin Trudeau, the son of Pierre Elliott
Trudeau, the late Prime Minister of Canada, in his opening remarks
mentioned the Armenian Genocide as an example of nations which have
suffered the scourge of genocide. It was apparent that Mr. Trudeau is
well versed with the historical facts of the Armenian Genocide.
Former general and current Senator Romeo Dallaire, the keynote
speaker, said he was confident " we [Canadian] have the capacity"
to lead a UN force. "What is lacking is the political will. It now
falls to Canada, as a leader of the world’s middle powers, to take
charge of the mission and rally other middle powers to stop the
slaughter" said senator Dallaire.
During his interviews with the media, Babikian emphasized that
"Armenians, as victims of genocide, can not sit idle and watch
another race fall victim to the most heinous crimes in history of
mankind." Babikian concluded: "We have the duty and obligation to
stand up in solidarity with victims regardless of their race, colour,
or religion."
A unity statement signed by 47 organizations, among them Amnesty
International, the Armenian National Committee of Canada, B’nai
Brith Canada, the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Canadian Labour
Congress, Human Rights Watch, Journalists for Human Rights, KAIROS:
Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, Montreal Institute for
Genocide and Human Rights Studies, Muslim Canadian Congress, United
Church of Canada, and the United Nations Association of Canada, was
distributed to the media, to political dignitaries and to Canadian
civil society representatives.
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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.
Regional Chapters
Montreal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge –
St. Catharines – Windsor – Vancouver