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PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada
615 Stuart Avenue, Montreal
Contact: Dn. Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
Tel: 514-276-9479
Fax: 514-276-9960
Email: [email protected]
Canada-Armenia Parliamentary
Friendship Group
Annual General Meeting held on Parliament Hill
The Annual General Meeting of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary
Friendship Group was held on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 in the West
Block of Parliament Hill, Ottawa. Present were Honorable Senators and
Members of Parliament from all parties.
The meeting began with greetings and welcoming remarks from Ms. Pat
Davidson, MP and then opened to the floor for nominations for the
election of the new Executive officers. Mr. Harold Albrecht received
unanimous acclaim to be Chair and provided a few kind words,
addressing the importance of strengthening and developing the
bilateral relations between the two nations, and building on the
growing opportunities for business between Canada and Armenia.
Vice-Chairs were nominated (MPs Francis Valeriote (Liberal), Nicole
Demers (BQ) and Tony Martin (NDP)). Upon the election of the members
of the Executive Committee and completion of committee business, the
meeting moved to include a personal report form Mr. Tony Martin.
Mr. Martin (NDP) gave a summarizing report of the Group's visit to
Armenia. It was a very genuine and heartfelt recount of his
observations, on behalf of Mr. Albrecht (Conservative) and Mr. Rob
Oliphant (Liberal). While in Armenia, the group had the opportunity
to hold meetings with and spend private time with each, the President,
the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House and the Foreign Minister.
Mr. Martin and Mr. Albrecht both reflected on the positive outcomes
gained from of the visits, recalling the generous time each official
allotted for each meeting. They were positively impressed by the
forthright and clear positions articulated by the Armenian government
leaders and deeply welcomed their expressions of high regard and
esteem for Canada's stance on social justice, and humanitarian
policies.
The Parliamentary Group acknowledged that they looked upon this trip
as an excellent opportunity for the growth of constructive and
explicit dialogue to benefit Armenian and Canadian interests.
Mr. Albrecht invited Dr. Girair Basmadjian, President of the Armenian
National Committee of Canada, and Dn. Hagop Arslanian, Director of the
Governmental Relations Office of the Diocese, to join him at the head
of the table. Congratulatory remarks were extended by Dr. Basmadjian,
to the members of the Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group, to thank
them for their participation.
The meeting was closed by Rev. Fr. Myron Sarkissian, representing the
Diocese of the Armenian Church, with a prayer of gratitude and
blessings for Canada, its government, the members of parliament, and
the men and women in uniform who are serving in Afghanistan.
The meeting concluded with a wine and cheese reception hosted by the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada and presented an opportunity
to mingle and meet and further build on well established friendships
among the participants.
*****
From: A. Papazian
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada
615 Stuart Avenue, Montreal
Contact: Dn. Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
Tel: 514-276-9479
Fax: 514-276-9960
Email: [email protected]
Canada-Armenia Parliamentary
Friendship Group
Annual General Meeting held on Parliament Hill
The Annual General Meeting of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary
Friendship Group was held on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 in the West
Block of Parliament Hill, Ottawa. Present were Honorable Senators and
Members of Parliament from all parties.
The meeting began with greetings and welcoming remarks from Ms. Pat
Davidson, MP and then opened to the floor for nominations for the
election of the new Executive officers. Mr. Harold Albrecht received
unanimous acclaim to be Chair and provided a few kind words,
addressing the importance of strengthening and developing the
bilateral relations between the two nations, and building on the
growing opportunities for business between Canada and Armenia.
Vice-Chairs were nominated (MPs Francis Valeriote (Liberal), Nicole
Demers (BQ) and Tony Martin (NDP)). Upon the election of the members
of the Executive Committee and completion of committee business, the
meeting moved to include a personal report form Mr. Tony Martin.
Mr. Martin (NDP) gave a summarizing report of the Group's visit to
Armenia. It was a very genuine and heartfelt recount of his
observations, on behalf of Mr. Albrecht (Conservative) and Mr. Rob
Oliphant (Liberal). While in Armenia, the group had the opportunity
to hold meetings with and spend private time with each, the President,
the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House and the Foreign Minister.
Mr. Martin and Mr. Albrecht both reflected on the positive outcomes
gained from of the visits, recalling the generous time each official
allotted for each meeting. They were positively impressed by the
forthright and clear positions articulated by the Armenian government
leaders and deeply welcomed their expressions of high regard and
esteem for Canada's stance on social justice, and humanitarian
policies.
The Parliamentary Group acknowledged that they looked upon this trip
as an excellent opportunity for the growth of constructive and
explicit dialogue to benefit Armenian and Canadian interests.
Mr. Albrecht invited Dr. Girair Basmadjian, President of the Armenian
National Committee of Canada, and Dn. Hagop Arslanian, Director of the
Governmental Relations Office of the Diocese, to join him at the head
of the table. Congratulatory remarks were extended by Dr. Basmadjian,
to the members of the Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group, to thank
them for their participation.
The meeting was closed by Rev. Fr. Myron Sarkissian, representing the
Diocese of the Armenian Church, with a prayer of gratitude and
blessings for Canada, its government, the members of parliament, and
the men and women in uniform who are serving in Afghanistan.
The meeting concluded with a wine and cheese reception hosted by the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada and presented an opportunity
to mingle and meet and further build on well established friendships
among the participants.
*****
From: A. Papazian