The Armenian Embassy in Ottawa celebrated the Republic Day, one of the major public holidays in Armenia that commemorates the establishment of the first Democratic Republic of Armenia on May 28, 1918.
The special guests of honour at the reception were Baroness Caroline Cox, Deputy Speaker of the British House of Lords and a prominent human rights advocate, and Honourable Jason Kenney, Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity.
In his welcoming address, Mr. Arman Akopian, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Armenia in Canada, spoke about the importance of the First Republic in modern Armenian history. Though it existed only for two and half years and was defeated by the invading bolshevik Red Army, it laid the way for the establishment of the present day Republic of Armenia.
Baroness Caroline Cox and Honourable Jason Kenney addressed the guests, sharing their thoughts and reflections on Armenia and its people.
Caroline Cox is a founder and CEO of Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust, (HART) which supports “forgotten people” in Europe, Africa and Asia, who suffer from the consequences of war or other humanitarian crises, but remain out of sight of other international aid agencies and international media.
Lady Cox has been involved in Nagorno-Karabakh since 1991, delivering humanitarian aid and advocating on the international level on behalf of people who suffered enormously during the conflict. Today HART operates a Rehabilitation Centre in Nagorno-Karabakh, providing treatment to people with disabilities. |
Mr. Arman Akopian, giving his welcoming speech
Mr. Arman Akopian, Baroness Caroline Cox and Honourable Jason Kenney
Baroness Caroline Cox and Mr. Arman Akopian |
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