<div style="text-align: center; "><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="line-height: 14.25pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; ">A roster of prominent local and Armenian speakers, at the maiden public gathering of the nascent Armenian Renaissance of Toronto (ART) movement on Feb. 8, called for a &quot;One Nation&quot; unified effort by the Diaspora and Armenia to help bring about a democratic, strong and prosperous Armenia. The nascent ART is a founding member of the new Diaspora movement whose aim is the peaceful promotion of good governance in Armenia.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">The speakers--Aram Adamyan, Dr. Berge Minassian, Viken Attarian, and Dr. Zareh Ouzounian (from Canada); Dr. David Grigorian and Dr. Zaven Kalaydjian from the Washington-based&nbsp;Policy Forum Armenia think tank; as well as activists Yeghia Nersesian and Alec Yenikomshian of Armenia agreed that the Diaspora can help bring about positive and fundamental change in Armenian governance.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">Adamyan, who also acted as MC, said that the separation, which had existed between Soviet Armenia and the Diaspora, continued following Armenia&#39;s independence, despite hopes that the Armenian nation would finally become one. He said the Diaspora has extensive and multifarious resources which Armenia desperately needs. It&#39;s time for Armenians in the Diaspora to connect through people-to-people links with their brothers and sisters in the Armenian homeland.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">Dr. Zareh Ouzounian, one of the key figures in the establishment of Armenian Renaissance in Canada, said: &quot;The very destiny of our nation is directly dependent on the survival of our motherland. Not the mere survival of the Armenian state, but its growth and development into a just, prosperous and powerful state.&quot;</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">He called for equal rights in Armenia, for truly democratic elections, improved governance and a responsible approach to environmental issues.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">The words &quot;change&quot; and &quot;hope&quot; have reappeared in the lexicon of the Armenian street and dozens of civic and reform movements have already emerged and are starting to raise their voices, said Dr. Ouzounian. &quot;Their sympathizers already number in tens of thousands...they are taking full advantage of modern technology and social media to raise their concerns,&quot; he added.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">These reform movements have created a new structure in the form of an all-inclusive pre-parliament (&quot;nakhakhorhrdaran&quot;) whose first objective is &quot;to develop and to articulate the platform of policies to govern the New Future Armenia...&quot; he said.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">While pointing out that meaningful change can only come from within Armenia, a strong, committed and engaged Diaspora support &quot;would go a long way in providing a supportive network, specific expertise and advice,&quot; said Dr. Ouzounian and added that the new, energized, engaged Diaspora is the Armenian Renaissance. Associate groups similar to ART are now sprouting in Los Angeles, Paris, Berlin, and Beirut.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">He admitted that the Armenian Renaissance of Toronto and AR movements around the globe do not have precise medium- or long-term road maps of actions they would take, but that they are working to develop strategies consistent with their mission. &quot;Whether it is by organizing informative lectures and debates, whether by signing petitions or organizing protests, whether it is by participating with our individual expertise and skills, Renaissance will be an action network, and not a discussion forum,&quot; stressed Dr. Ouzounian.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">&quot;Wherever we live, the New Future Armenia is our collective responsibility. If we truly believe we are ONE Nation, we, in the Diaspora, have the right and the duty to support the grass-roots civil society movements that will shape the New Future Armenia,&quot; he said.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">Viken Attarian, a prominent intellectual and community leader in Montreal pointed out to the audience that the challenge in Armenia, as elsewhere, is how to maintain democratic rule. Once established, democracy requires constant care and attention, otherwise it could vanish. Social activism, civic movements, the free exchange of ideas are signals of a healthy democracy. &quot;The hundreds of thousands of Armenian citizens, who are committed to these ideals, are the guarantors of the flourishing democracy in Armenia,&quot; he said.&nbsp; Attarian cited the work of scholar and author Daron Acemyan, an Armenian citizen of Turkey as a key in understanding why certain contemporary states succeed while others fail.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">Because for centuries many Armenians have lived outside Armenia, a significant percentage of Diaspora Armenians don&#39;t consider Armenia their homeland.&nbsp; &quot;We should feel that we are a successful movement when most Diasporans regard Armenia as their homeland,&quot; he said.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">He also defined the sharp difference between the concept of citizenship and nationality. Because for centuries many Armenians have lived outside Armenia, most Diasporans consider themselves citizens rather than members of the national group of the countries they reside.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">Attarian drew the audience&#39;s attention to a prominent and worrisome difference between the Canadian Charter of Rights and freedoms and the Armenian Constitution. He said that there were so many exceptions or &quot;notwithstanding clauses&quot; in the Armenian Constitution that a future law could easily nullify the freedoms and rights &quot;guaranteed&quot; by the Constitution. He called for inviolable rights and freedoms to be imbedded in the Armenian Constitution.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">Dr. Berge Minassian, a founding member of Armenian Renaissance, said that a state governed democratically and with the rule of law is essential to the survival of Armenia, and therefore to the Armenian nation. &quot;We believe such a state will come about through the efforts of Armenians living in our homeland. The Armenian Renaissance movement is a reaction to the realization that Diaspora Armenians can buttress, support, and sustain the civil society movements for peaceful change taking place in Armenia.&quot;</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">Dr. Minassian said that positive change is necessary and urgent. &quot;The Diaspora can&#39;t abdicate its responsibility to help those working in Armenia to effectuate democratic change.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">&quot;</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">Dr. David Grigorian and Dr. Zaven Kalaydjian, who were scheduled to address the gathering, could not attend in person due to a severe snowstorm. Speaking via Skype, they presented an informative forensic analysis of the 2012 parliamentary elections in Armenia and cited the various research activities, conferences, and reports that the PFA undertakes. Dr. Grigorian said the PFA is comprised of more than 60 professionals across the globe, who volunteer their expertise and time to analyze Armenia-related developments and offer alternative views on those. Through YouTube, environmental activist Yeghia Nersesian and Sardarapat spokesman, Alec Yenikomshian, described their activities in Armenia.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">Nersesian invited Diaspora Armenians to join Armenians in the homeland to realize a &quot;renaissance of the Armenian nation.&quot; Echoing the other speakers, Yenikomshian also emphasized the key role of the Diaspora in rebuilding a progressive and democratic political system in Armenia.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 14.25pt; ">Flyers, including the vision and mission statement of ART, as well as links to democratic, civic, environmental group websites, were distributed to the audience which had braved one of the worst storms in the city&#39;s recent history.</span></div><div style="margin: 0.5em 0px; line-height: 19px; font-size: 0.875em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left; "><span style="line-height: 14.25pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; ">For other inquiries, please check the Armenian Renaissance website:&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.armenian-renaissance.org/" style="line-height: 14.25pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; outline: none; text-decoration: initial; "><span style="color:#31827D">www.armenian-renaissance.org</span></a></div><div style="margin: 6pt 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left; "><o:p></o:p></div><p style="margin: 0.5em 0px; font-size: 0.875em; text-align: left; ">&nbsp;</p></div>