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RETIRED US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA JOHN EVANS IN MONTREAL, HOSTED BY THE CCA
armradio.am
25.04.2008 10:34
On Saturday April 19, 2008 the Congress of Canadian Armenians -
National Committee hosted a dinner reception recognizing the work of
retired United States Ambassador to Armenia, Mr. John Evans.
Canadian Citizenship Judge and former Member of Parliament for Don
Valley North, Sarkis Assadourian, introduced the guests of honour
John and Donna Evans.
In his address to the audience Mr. Evans spoke about one of the
challenges of the assignment. As U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, he was
aware that he was free to use all of the words that define Genocide but
an entrenched unwritten policy exists in the U.S. Foreign Service to
completely refrain from using the term. He maintained that approach
during the entire time of his posting in Armenia. But in 2005,
during a speech to his fellow Americans of Armenian descent living
in California, he felt that using the term honestly to describe what
everyone already knows, would simply be right. The fallout from the
events that occurred thereafter leading to his retirement 18 months
later will be detailed in a nearly completed book to be published by
the former Ambassador.
Ambassador Evans talked about the Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106) of
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee and encouraged the Armenian
community not to relent. With time and sustained effort some
positive change can emerge for Armenians from the US foreign policy
perspective. Turkey has been an important ally to the United States
since long before the cold war and remains so today. Nevertheless, he
called upon Armenians to continue to work with the courageous leaders,
writers, publishers and thinkers who seek democratization in Turkey.
On Nagorno-Karabakh, Ambassador Evans admonished Azerbaijan for
having taken advantage of minor election unrest in Armenia to restart
military hostility.
He expressed confidence in the work of the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group and in the power of
negotiation.
He mentioned that while Azerbaijan insists on its territorial
integrity, the people of Nagorno Karabakh insist on the right of
self-determination. The one principle that should be adhered to is the
art of diplomacy and compromise. On that point he stated that Armenia
could have no greater protectors than the three members of the OSCE,
namely France, the United States, and Russia.
In addition to Ambassador Evans, the CCA was honoured by the presence
of the Honourable Stéphane Dion - Leader of the Official Opposition
and M.P. for St-Laurent-Cartierville. Mr. Dion re-affirmed his
commitment to maintain the position of Parliament on the Genocide. He
repeated his desire not only to ensure the opening of a Canadian
Embassy in Yerevan if elected Prime Minister but also his great
desire to travel to Armenia and attend the ribbon cutting ceremony
for that Embassy.
Agop T. Evereklian, Conservative nominee in Laval-Les-Ã~Nles, read
out a special surprise message CCA had received from the Right
Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada. Dated April
24, 2008, the Prime Minister wrote in part: "I have reminded all
Canadians that both Houses of Parliament have adopted resolutions
recognizing "the first genocide of the twentieth century_. This is a
day we acknowledge solemnly, not to cast blame back into the distant
past but to guide us towards a better future. It reminds us all of
why we must remain committed to ensuring that today_s world is one
where respect for human right and democratic freedom prevails." The
Prime Minister also emphasized the values of respect for human rights
and democratic freedoms. The full text of the message delivered to
CCA in both official languages is available on the CCA website at
http://canarmcongress.com/ .
Other dignitaries in attendance included: Senator Francis Fox,
former Canadian Cabinet Minister, Principal Secretary in the Prime
Minister's Office, senior aide to Prime Minister Paul Martin and
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien; Retired Armenian Senator and Member of
the Order of Canada Raymond Setlakwe and his wife Yvette; Mary Deros
Tchavoushian, Montreal City Councillor for Parc-Extension Borough;
and former Liberal M.P. and current Liberal nominee in Ahuntsic,
Eleni Bakopanos. The leadership and clergy from each of the Armenian
denominations: Catholic, Protestant, and the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Canadian Diocese, were also in attendance.
Vice Chairperson of the Congress of Canadian Armenians, Mr. Pierre
Akkelian, thanked the special guests and attendees. To Evans he stated:
"You served as America's ambassador to Armenia and have become every
Armenian's Ambassador to the world." Mr Akkelian also conveyed the
CCA's heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister and thanked the Prime
Minister for his vote in the House of Commons 4 years ago, recognising
the Armenian Genocide as opposition leader, and staying true to his
convictions, unequivocally reiterating it every year since he became
the Prime Minister.
Mr. Akkelian also singled out the Honorable Stéphane Dion, as a
true friend along with Eleni Bakopanos, Judge Sarkis Assadourian and
Senator Raymond Setlakwe for their tremendous work in Parliament to
ensure the passage of the genocide recognition motion in the House
of Commons and Senate and as great friends of the community.
The M. C. for the evening was former Montreal City Councillor and
CCA committee member, attorney Jack Chadirdjian.
A complete program in commemoration of the 93rd anniversary of the
Genocide occurred on the following day, Sunday the 20th of April, at
the Genocide Monument at Marcelin-Wilson Park on de l'Acadie Street,
in Montreal.
Ambassador Evans was in attendance with Mr. Stéphane Dion to place
wreaths along with representatives of 15 community organizations,
dignitaries and many descendants of survivors from the Armenian
Genocide of April 24, 1915.
--Boundary_(ID_Nd9KlgOo7g1KUwv7hyfL4Q)--
armradio.am
25.04.2008 10:34
On Saturday April 19, 2008 the Congress of Canadian Armenians -
National Committee hosted a dinner reception recognizing the work of
retired United States Ambassador to Armenia, Mr. John Evans.
Canadian Citizenship Judge and former Member of Parliament for Don
Valley North, Sarkis Assadourian, introduced the guests of honour
John and Donna Evans.
In his address to the audience Mr. Evans spoke about one of the
challenges of the assignment. As U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, he was
aware that he was free to use all of the words that define Genocide but
an entrenched unwritten policy exists in the U.S. Foreign Service to
completely refrain from using the term. He maintained that approach
during the entire time of his posting in Armenia. But in 2005,
during a speech to his fellow Americans of Armenian descent living
in California, he felt that using the term honestly to describe what
everyone already knows, would simply be right. The fallout from the
events that occurred thereafter leading to his retirement 18 months
later will be detailed in a nearly completed book to be published by
the former Ambassador.
Ambassador Evans talked about the Genocide Resolution (H.Res.106) of
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee and encouraged the Armenian
community not to relent. With time and sustained effort some
positive change can emerge for Armenians from the US foreign policy
perspective. Turkey has been an important ally to the United States
since long before the cold war and remains so today. Nevertheless, he
called upon Armenians to continue to work with the courageous leaders,
writers, publishers and thinkers who seek democratization in Turkey.
On Nagorno-Karabakh, Ambassador Evans admonished Azerbaijan for
having taken advantage of minor election unrest in Armenia to restart
military hostility.
He expressed confidence in the work of the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group and in the power of
negotiation.
He mentioned that while Azerbaijan insists on its territorial
integrity, the people of Nagorno Karabakh insist on the right of
self-determination. The one principle that should be adhered to is the
art of diplomacy and compromise. On that point he stated that Armenia
could have no greater protectors than the three members of the OSCE,
namely France, the United States, and Russia.
In addition to Ambassador Evans, the CCA was honoured by the presence
of the Honourable Stéphane Dion - Leader of the Official Opposition
and M.P. for St-Laurent-Cartierville. Mr. Dion re-affirmed his
commitment to maintain the position of Parliament on the Genocide. He
repeated his desire not only to ensure the opening of a Canadian
Embassy in Yerevan if elected Prime Minister but also his great
desire to travel to Armenia and attend the ribbon cutting ceremony
for that Embassy.
Agop T. Evereklian, Conservative nominee in Laval-Les-Ã~Nles, read
out a special surprise message CCA had received from the Right
Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada. Dated April
24, 2008, the Prime Minister wrote in part: "I have reminded all
Canadians that both Houses of Parliament have adopted resolutions
recognizing "the first genocide of the twentieth century_. This is a
day we acknowledge solemnly, not to cast blame back into the distant
past but to guide us towards a better future. It reminds us all of
why we must remain committed to ensuring that today_s world is one
where respect for human right and democratic freedom prevails." The
Prime Minister also emphasized the values of respect for human rights
and democratic freedoms. The full text of the message delivered to
CCA in both official languages is available on the CCA website at
http://canarmcongress.com/ .
Other dignitaries in attendance included: Senator Francis Fox,
former Canadian Cabinet Minister, Principal Secretary in the Prime
Minister's Office, senior aide to Prime Minister Paul Martin and
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien; Retired Armenian Senator and Member of
the Order of Canada Raymond Setlakwe and his wife Yvette; Mary Deros
Tchavoushian, Montreal City Councillor for Parc-Extension Borough;
and former Liberal M.P. and current Liberal nominee in Ahuntsic,
Eleni Bakopanos. The leadership and clergy from each of the Armenian
denominations: Catholic, Protestant, and the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Canadian Diocese, were also in attendance.
Vice Chairperson of the Congress of Canadian Armenians, Mr. Pierre
Akkelian, thanked the special guests and attendees. To Evans he stated:
"You served as America's ambassador to Armenia and have become every
Armenian's Ambassador to the world." Mr Akkelian also conveyed the
CCA's heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister and thanked the Prime
Minister for his vote in the House of Commons 4 years ago, recognising
the Armenian Genocide as opposition leader, and staying true to his
convictions, unequivocally reiterating it every year since he became
the Prime Minister.
Mr. Akkelian also singled out the Honorable Stéphane Dion, as a
true friend along with Eleni Bakopanos, Judge Sarkis Assadourian and
Senator Raymond Setlakwe for their tremendous work in Parliament to
ensure the passage of the genocide recognition motion in the House
of Commons and Senate and as great friends of the community.
The M. C. for the evening was former Montreal City Councillor and
CCA committee member, attorney Jack Chadirdjian.
A complete program in commemoration of the 93rd anniversary of the
Genocide occurred on the following day, Sunday the 20th of April, at
the Genocide Monument at Marcelin-Wilson Park on de l'Acadie Street,
in Montreal.
Ambassador Evans was in attendance with Mr. Stéphane Dion to place
wreaths along with representatives of 15 community organizations,
dignitaries and many descendants of survivors from the Armenian
Genocide of April 24, 1915.
--Boundary_(ID_Nd9KlgOo7g1KUwv7hyfL4Q)--