CANADIAN MAGAZINE QUESTIONS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
22.10.2009 12:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ten days after signing of Armenia-Turkey protocols,
Canada-based Embassy magazine published an article where the author
questioned the fact of the Armenian Genocide.
To comment on the article, Ara Papian, Head of the Modus Vivendi
Center issued a statement, which reads:
"Apologists for the Armenia-Turkey protocols denied all the warnings
that there would be negative effects on the Armenian Genocide
recognition process, while I, along with many others, foresaw that
negative consequences would manifest themselves even in those countries
that have already recognized the Armenian Genocide.
Unfortunately, that turned out to be the case. Example:
Canada is one of those few countries where both the parliament (in
2002 and 2004), as well as the cabinet (in 2006) have recognized
the Armenian Genocide. Consequently, since 2004, no self-respecting
member of the media would ever publish or broadcast any article or
program denying the Armenian Genocide. Moreover, when, in February
of 2006, as a reaction to my mentioning the Armenian Genocide as
part of a farewell interview to the influential Embassy magazine,
the ambassadors of Turkey and Azerbaijan complained, the editor of
that periodical responded, without any intervention on my part, that,
"the fact of the genocide cannot be disputed, as it is not subject
to any doubts". Clear and precise.
And what do we have now? Only ten days after signing the protocols,
the very same Embassy magazine (on the 21st of October, 2009) published
an article by Gwynne Dyer, where it is said that, "the Armenians back
home have made a deal … [which] create a joint historical commission
to determine what actually happened in 1915".
The author’s concluding remarks of the article state that, "It was not
a genocide…" And this in Canada, which has recognized the Armenian
Genocide. As people on the streets say, we have messed with Canada,
and she will not forgive us. People don’t forgive those who mess
around with them, even in international relations.
And now for yet another prediction. After the protocols get ratified
(God forbid), it would mean legally doubting the Armenian Genocide
(please save your arguments for the Canadian courts), upon which the
Canadian courts will be filled with applications against the prior
governmental declarations for having "insulted honor and dignity",
seeing as we have insulted the Turkish state – and, of course,
Canadian citizens of Turkish descent – in a yet-to-be-proven crime
(genocide), subject to discussion by some sub-commission.
Since the Canadian court system provides for monetary compensation
with regards to moral damages, I would therefore like to call for an
extra line in next year’s state budget of the Republic of Armenia,
of a few hundred million dollars (nothing less), to pay for moral
damages. Ultimately, we are the ones who are going to billed for
these complaints."