vava Posted November 30, 2002 Report Share Posted November 30, 2002 ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF CANADA3401 OLIVAR-ASSELIN, MONTREAL, QUEBEC H4J 1L5 FAX: (514) 334-6853E-MAIL : anc.canada@sympatico.ca ---------------------------------------------PRESS RELEASE--------------------------------------------- For immediate releaseNovember 29, 2002 Contact: Roupen Kouyoumdjian (514) 336-7095, (514) 415-0575Aram Adjemian (514) 334-1299 First Senate, now Standing Committee Passes Motion Calling on Parliament to Recognise the Armenian Genocide On November 28 2002, the Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs and International Trade passed (with a vote of 9 for and 8 against) a motion stating that quote:the committee invite the House of Commons to recognise the genocide of the Armenians, which began at the turn of the last century, by the Ottoman Turks, during the First World War.The significance of this motion cannot be underestimated, especially since it has the same terminology as the resolution passed by the Senate on June 13 2002 inviting the House of Commons to recognise the Armenian Genocide. "I wish to express our appreciation to Dr. Bernard Patry, Chair of the Committee, and to the 9 members who voted for the motion" stated Dr. Girair Basmadjian, President of the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC), adding that most members of the Standing Committee have been involved for years with the ANCC regarding this subject. "However, I am surprised that at this stage there are still members who find reasons to vote against a motion dealing with the Armenian Genocide." "I am confident that the House of Commons and the Government of Canada will soon be convinced to recognise the Armenian Genocide." added Dr. Basmadjian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fadi Posted November 30, 2002 Report Share Posted November 30, 2002 Jean Chretien, you want to be on history books before you retire in a few months ? Go ahead, make your life more worthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fadi Posted November 30, 2002 Report Share Posted November 30, 2002 Thats the plus vava, not really. Who would dare to do that ? I mean, an action that has been done by a prime minister before his retirement. There is a code of conduct in every political paties. "Never touch what the leader of a party has instored before his retirement." Once Chretien will retire, still the liberals will have power, would Martin dare to undo the last wishes of a political man that served for more then 20 years in that party ? [ November 30, 2002, 01:25 PM: Message edited by: Domino ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted December 1, 2002 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2002 Oh But be careful Domino! Anything that our 'beloved' Jean does in his last days in office are bound to be questioned/re-tought or even reversed by the following government, non? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted December 2, 2002 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2002 Ok. So let's assume Jean retires, Martin takes over, and the Liberals hang on to the government - all these assumptions seem likely BTW Do really think that one of Jean's last outgoing acts would be to pass a motion recognizing the the AG at the hands of the Ottomans? I think that it's totally not his style - he's made a career of riding the wave: never actually 'doing' anything, but just floating along... Second, to counter your point about not touching an outgoing leader's last actions - Martin is campaigning on parliamentary reform... he's trying to portray an image of change. I doubt that he would have any problems reversing Jean's last actions... especially after what he has been through over the last couple of years waiting for office. My question to you is: do you think that the house of commons will even table a motion recognizing the Genocide any time soon? According to the article above the standing commitee's vote passed only by 1 vote! Not exactly a convincing majority! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fadi Posted December 2, 2002 Report Share Posted December 2, 2002 dear vava When I said that no one will undo what was introduced by a prime minister on the dor of retirement, I did not included economical restructurations, or things that concerns the finance ministers, but rather kind of "human" actions, like Chretien is doing before retiring, like his new causes concerning the Africans, the Kyoto Treaty etc... I think it is the best time to force a prime minister that has no reason anymore to refuse such motion(the recognition), when after he will retire and do not give much of "realpolitic" but rather want people to record things that he may have done in the humanitarian level. Do you remember the messages of Cretian concerning sep. 11 ? He said that what the Western world is doing would bring in future to actions such as this, and that the West should rethink of many of its policies, why is he doing that ? Because Chretien is more free then ever... its time now for the Armenians... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted December 2, 2002 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2002 Point taken Domino. Political actions undertaken by an outgoing leader for humanitarian reasons are not likely to be reversed. But, given the close vote by the standing committee, along with various other factors (including his interests in pushing for Kyoto) I don't think the Chretien is going to lift a finger to help the Armenians. I wish he would - and some of his backbenchers would strongly support... but I personally have doubts that his 'help' for anyone represents something other than self-interest. And he simply has nothing to gain (politically speaking) by recognizing the AG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fadi Posted December 3, 2002 Report Share Posted December 3, 2002 Yes ! I agree, but what we must do is to prove that he has something to gain, you know an arrogant individual such as him that want to have a record of some humanitarian good action, would try to do as much good actions he could make in the comming months, if we just try to convince him that he has something to gain. We always will have the Bloc Quebecois on our side, that always was in favour of the recognition, Quebec has recognised the genocide long ago. And that is why I think that more of them on the opposition better is for the Armenians, I always tried to convince Armenians to vote for the Bloc, they are the only really carring about the recognition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted December 3, 2002 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2002 Oh Domino, we have such a tough choice here in Quebec... It's so hard to vote Bloc. Yes, it's true - they have recognized the genocide... yet it's such a difficult question: Do we vote Bloc - and support a party who's membership includes countless xenophobes and who's leaders remarks often recall fascist, even racist rhetoric? Yet they support our agenda... Or do we vote for the Liberals - who's self-serving interests, and incompetence in foreign affairs (and internal affairs too, judging by the number of scandals) are simply unparalleled? And from whom we likely won't get much support... Hmmm.... [ December 03, 2002, 07:59 AM: Message edited by: vava ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fadi Posted December 4, 2002 Report Share Posted December 4, 2002 Vava, some members from the Bloc may have done remarks that sound salty, but they are not fascist remarks, in fact Quebec mentality is far more social democratic then any other parties elswhere, and the Bloc defense of social causes are without question. What you will have as xenophobic and fascist, is the actual opposition party at Ottawa, they are right wingist idiots that picture Caanada as the United-States, the recognition of the Armenian genocide is a humanitarian and social cause, and there is no other party then the Bloc Quebecois that fight so vigurosly for such causes, yes ! They may be hypocriths, but there is no honest parties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted December 4, 2002 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2002 Hey Domino! First of all - 100% agreement on the Reform/ Canadian Alliance... they are the closest thing that Canada has to an NRA type of mindset. Second, yes, perhaps the Bloc is more supportive of humanitarian causes. That being said, one must not confuse the school of thought of the Bloc politicians, who are mostly 'better-educated' and have had at least some experience in multi-ethnic urban centers like Montreal, with the general mentality of Quebecers. Whereas the Bloc (& the PQ to some extent) are a mixed bag of sorts and lean different ways depending on which how the wind blows, the Quebec public seems to be more socialist, (as you said, yes), but they also have very clear xenophobic tendancies - especially in the regions. This is really not surprising, after all the Quebecers have managed to create a cultural micro-environment despite being completely surrounded and inundated with external language/culture. It's part of their survival instinct - but they are less eductated about other cultures, and consequently harbour more fear. The Bloc, (& the PQ) both reflect this tendancy of their constituents, if not directly in their policies, in their character. As an immigrant I have a hard time supporting/perpetuating that fear. Although as you said: quote:Domino:but there is no honest parties [ December 04, 2002, 04:50 PM: Message edited by: vava ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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