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04/22/2004
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1) Country with a Conscience, Canada Passes Armenian Genocide Legislation
2) Sen. Kerry Calls for International Recognition of Armenian Genocide
3) European Armenian Federation Hails Canada
4) Turkey Chides Canada over Armenia Genocide Vote
1) Country with a Conscience, Canada Overwhelmingly Passes Armenian Genocide
Legislation
OTTAWA (Combined Sources)–The Canadian Parliament on Wednesday ignored
long-standing government policy and angered Turkey by formally declaring that
Ottoman Turks committed genocide against Armenians in 1915. The non-partisan
vote was 153 for and 68 against. When the result of the vote was announced,
the
House of Commons chamber, packed with Armenians from Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto
and other Canadian cities, burst in applause, shouting “bravo.” Tears of joy
could be seen in the eyes of many Armenians.
Motion M-380, which reads: “That this House acknowledges the Armenian
genocide
of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against humanity,” was moved by MP
Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral and was seconded by MPs Sarkis Assadourian, Jason
Kenney, and Alexa McDonough. Voting, which began at 6:15 PM, lasted 30
minutes.
The governing Liberal leadership paved the way for this vote by allowing a
“free vote,” meaning that individual members are allowed to vote their
conscience, without any pressure or negative repercussions from their
respective party leaderships. Although Minister of Foreign Affairs Bill Graham
used every means available to him to defeat the Motion, he was unable to
change
the historic outcome.
In the vote, several leading members of the Liberal Party, including
parliamentary secretaries, voted in favor; however, no full cabinet minister
voted against.
Aris Babikian, of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, pointed out that
several key cabinet ministers, including Justice Minister Irwin Cotler and
even
Prime Minister Paul Martin, were absent for the vote.
“It’s a terrible double standard for Paul Martin to force his ministers to
vote against it and not even show up himself,” said Tory foreign affairs
critic
Stockwell Day. “That is a hypocritical double standard.”
At a celebration party after Tuesday’s vote, Babikian said he owed this
victory to his grandfather who “lost six brothers and sisters in the genocide”
and “saw his own six-year-old sister burned to death.”
On February 21, the Parliament held its first reading of Bill M-380, which
included an hour of debate on the measure. Among those speaking in favor of
the
Resolution during the first reading were Derek Lee, Eleni Bakopnaos, Francine
Lalonde, Stockwell Day, and the Hon. Lorne Nystrom.
The second reading of M-380, to recognize the Armenian Genocide, took
place on
April 20. During the one-hour debate, only one member of the House spoke
against the motion. The other seven speakers were favored of the motion.
In the last two days, the Turkish Embassy and its public relations firms had
launched a concerted campaign against the adoption of the bill. A delegation
from the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) was on hand to counter
the Turkish Embassy’s campaign of falsification and distortion of the
historical facts. An ANCC team has been in the nation’s capital for the past
several weeks representing the community’s views on this matter.
The passing of this resolution was the culmination of a 25 year process which
encompassed similar resolutions being passed by city councils, provinces, and
the Canadian Senate (July 13, 2002).
Dr. Girair Basmadjian, president of the Armenian National Committee of Canada
(ANCC), was elated by the result of the vote. “As an Armenian, I was moved and
felt grateful for the respect that was shown by the Canadian Parliament to the
memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. As a Canadian, I am proud that
the House of Commons adopted this historic motion.”
“This is a victory for truth and justice.” stated Dr. Basmadjian.
“Implicated in this course of action for over two decades, the ANCC has
constituted the driving force behind the process towards the adoption of this
motion,” commented Basmadjian. “The accomplishment of this task was made
possible through the mobilization, as well as the implication of our grass
roots members who made sure that all Members of Parliament were aware of the
importance of this issue for our community.”
The ANCC was actively involved in promoting the passing of the motion. For
the last six months, the ANCC worked very closely with parliamentarians and
foreign affairs critics of all the political parties represented in the
House.
ANC of America Executive Director Aram Hamparian also lauded Canada’s
lawmakers. “The Canadian Parliament, in rejecting intense Turkish government
pressure, took an important step in further isolating Turkey for its shameful,
international campaign of genocide denial.”
The ANCC mailed a specially-prepared brief to all members of the House. The
ANCC also mobilized the Canadian-Armenian community to counter the Turkish
Government’s propaganda campaign through e-mails, postcards and telephone
calls
to parliamentarians.
Canada, a NATO ally, now joins a long list of nations including France,
Italy,
Greece, Switzerland and Russia which have recognized the Armenian Genocide of
1915-1923.
2) Sen. Kerry Calls for International Recognition of Armenian Genocide
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL OUTLINES STRONG HISTORY OF SUPPORT FOR
ARMENIAN
AMERICAN CONCERNS IN APRIL 24TH STATEMENT
SENATOR’S RECORD ON ARMENIAN ISSUES DETAILED ON
WASHINGTON, DC (ANCA)–Democratic Presidential hopeful, Sen. John Kerry,
called
for international recognition of the Armenian Genocide today, in a statement
issued to Armenian Americans marking the 89th anniversary of that crime
against
humanity.
An outspoken advocate of US recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Senator
Kerry stated, “I join Armenian Americans and Armenians worldwide in mourning
the victims of the Armenian Genocide and I call on governments and people
everywhere to formally recognize this tragedy. Only by learning from this dark
period of history and working to prevent future genocides can we truly honor
the memories of those Armenians who suffered so unjustly.”
Earlier this week, Senator Kerry joined 22 of his Senate colleagues
calling on
President Bush to “refer to the mass slaughter of Armenians as genocide in
your
commemorative statement.” He was amongst the earliest cosponsors of the
Genocide resolution (S.Res.164), which marks the 15th anniversary of the US
implementation of the Genocide Convention.
“With this most recent statement honoring the victims of the Armenian
Genocide, Sen. Kerry builds on his two decade long record of support for
proper
US recognition of this crime against humanity,” stated Aram Hamparian,
Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA.) “This
election season, we look forward to ensuring that our community is fully aware
of the Senator’s record on the Armenian Genocide and all issues of concern to
Armenian American voters.”
In the statement, Sen. Kerry outlined his longstanding support for a broad
range of Armenian American concerns. “In 1992, I authored an amendment to the
Freedom Support Act making US aid to Azerbaijan conditional on it taking steps
to end its blockades against Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. I supported the
Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act in 1996, which prohibits US assistance to any
country that restricts the delivery of US humanitarian aid to another country.
In 2003, I cosponsored legislation to extend “permanent normal trade
relations”
(PNTR) to Armenia. This January, I joined Senators Barbara Boxer, George
Allen,
Paul Sarbanes, Russ Feingold, and Jon Corzine in asking the President to urge
Turkey to lift its embargo of Armenia.”
Senator Kerry’s complete record on Armenian American concerns is posted on
the
Armenians For Kerry website– The website includes
previous statements by the Senator and provides ways for Armenian American
supporters to become active in the Kerry campaign through donations or other
volunteer efforts.
The complete text of Sen. Kerry’s statement follows.
Statement by Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry In Remembrance of
the Armenian Genocide:
“April 24th marks the 89th anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian
Genocide. Between 1915 and 1923 the rulers of the old Ottoman Empire killed or
deported over 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children in a systematic
policy of ethnic extermination.”
“I thank Armenian Americans for their persistence in the struggle to gain
international recognition of this atrocity. By keeping the memory of this
tragedy alive, Armenian Americans remind us all of our collective
responsibility to insure that such horrors are not repeated.
“I am proud of my work with the Armenian American community to gain broader
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, including fighting alongside Senator
Robert Dole in 1990 for designation of April 24 as a national day of
remembrance for this tragedy.”
“I have been an unwavering supporter of many other important Armenian issues.
In 1992, I authored an amendment to the Freedom Support Act making US aid to
Azerbaijan conditional on it taking steps to end its blockades against Armenia
and Nagorno Karabagh. I supported the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act in 1996
which prohibits US assistance to any country that restricts the delivery of US
humanitarian aid to another country. In 2003, I cosponsored legislation to
extend “permanent normal trade relations” (PNTR) to Armenia. This January, I
joined Senators Barbara Boxer, George Allen, Paul Sarbanes, Russ Feingold, and
Jon Corzine in asking the President to urge Turkey to lift its embargo of
Armenia.”
“I join Armenian Americans and Armenians worldwide in mourning the victims of
the Armenian Genocide and I call on governments and people everywhere to
formally recognize this tragedy. Only by learning from this dark period of
history and working to prevent future genocides can we truly honor the
memories
of those Armenians who suffered so unjustly.”
3) European Armenian Federation Hails Canada
BRUSSELS–The European Armenian Federation applauded Canada’s passage of
Armenian Genocide legislation on Wednesday, congratulating those organizations
and individuals who doggedly pursued official recognition, as well as
parliament members who backed the motion, ensuring its passage by a vote of
153
to 58.
“In restoring truth, Canada also restores justice and paves the only possible
way to a frank and fair reconciliation. That’s why we ask the European
Union to
demand without delay Turkey to acknowledge and to give reparation for the
Armenian Genocide before examining its application for membership,” said the
director of the European Armenian Federation Laurent Leylekian.
4) Turkey Chides Canada over Armenia Genocide Vote
ANKARA (Reuters)–Turkey on Thursday condemned the Canadian parliament’s
decision to recognize the 1915 killing of Armenians by Ottoman forces as
genocide and warned of damage to bilateral ties.
“We strongly condemn the approval by Canada’s Federal Parliament of this
decision which follows (the pressure of) marginal groups despite our
objections,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“This decision will benefit neither Canadian Armenians nor Armenia.
Responsibility for all the negative consequences of this decision belongs to
the Canadian politicians,” it added.
The ministry did not say what these consequences might be, but Fazli Corman,
the Turkish embassy councilor in Ottawa, earlier cited the example of Canadian
companies seeking to sign contracts in Turkey.
Canadian Foreign Minister Bill Graham said the motion would not alter
Ottawa’s
official policy, that while the events of 1915 were a tragedy, they did not
constitute genocide.
Canada’s embassy in Ankara issued a statement calling for reconciliation
between Turks and Armenians. It also urged their governments to deal with the
issue of the alleged genocide and to work for greater stability in their
“volatile region.”
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry accused “narrow-minded Canadian politicians” of
fomenting ethnic and religious hatred between “people of different ethnic
backgrounds who live in peace.”
Earlier this week, Turkey also criticized a reference to the alleged genocide
on an Armenian monument unveiled in Poland. The word “slandered” the Turkish
nation, the Foreign Ministry said, and hurt Turkey’s historically warm ties
with Poland.
Parliaments in Russia, France and Switzerland, have also adopted motions
describing the events of 1915 as genocide.
Turkey froze official visits to France and temporarily blocked French firms
from entering lucrative defense contracts in 2001 after the French parliament
backed the Armenian case. France is home to Europe’s biggest Armenian
Diaspora.
The US Congress dropped a similar resolution in 2000 after the White House
warned it would harm US security interests in the Middle East.
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