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Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
E-mail:[email protected]
FO R IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 16, 06
Contact: Kevor Manguelian
Tel. (613) 235-2622
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay Reaffirms Canadian Government's
Recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Ottawa-Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay reaffirmed the Canadian
government's recognition of the Armenian Genocide, during a round
table discussion with the National Ethnic Press and Media Council
(NEPMCC) on Nov. 8. The minister also clarified his position on the
Turkish Government's proposal to create a historians' commission to
study the Armenian Genocide.
Minister Mackey assured the Canadian-Armenian community that the
Canadian Government's policy on the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide has "not changed. Nothing has changed in that regard,"
stressed Mr. MacKay.
In response to a question from Aris Babikian, Horizon Weekly
representative to NEPMCC and the executive director of the Armenian
National Committee of Canada (ANCC), Mr. MacKay stated: "Canada would
support a joint study that would involve participation from academics
from both countries with the inclusion, perhaps, a neutral country
that would be acceptable to both. So a dialogue around what is clearly
incredibly sensitive and loaded issue could lead to greater meeting of
minds plus an opening of a dialogue on other important issues-trade,
travel, greater communication, the blockade of Armenia-is useful
exercise that might bring about some greater healing."
In response to studies by more than 450 historians and international
organizations confirming the uncontested historical reality of the
Armenian Genocide, Mr. MacKay said: "I am not disputing what you
[Babikian] said in terms of the amount of study that has accrued
already."
In a related story, Robert Kocharian, president of Armenia, replied
to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's proposal to form
a historians' commission by saying: "A suggestion to address the
past cannot be effective if it deflects from addressing the present
and the future. In order to engage in a useful dialogue, we need to
create the appropriate and conducive political environment. It is the
responsibility of governments to develop bilateral relations and we do
not have the right to delegate that responsibility to historians. That
is why we have proposed and propose again that, without pre-conditions,
we establish normal relations between our two countries."
"Minister MacKay's clarifications are greatly appreciated by the
ANCC and the Canadian-Armenian Community. To build neighbourly and
friendly relations Armenia and Turkey must talk and establish joint
intergovernmental commissions to discuses all outstanding issues
between the two countries," said Babikian. "After all Armenia and
Turkey are bound to coexist and prosper next to each other."
#
The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range
of issues.
Regional Chapters
Montreal - Laval - Ottawa - Toronto - Hamilton - Cambridge - St.
Catharines - Windsor - Vancouver
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
E-mail:[email protected]
FO R IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 16, 06
Contact: Kevor Manguelian
Tel. (613) 235-2622
Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay Reaffirms Canadian Government's
Recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Ottawa-Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay reaffirmed the Canadian
government's recognition of the Armenian Genocide, during a round
table discussion with the National Ethnic Press and Media Council
(NEPMCC) on Nov. 8. The minister also clarified his position on the
Turkish Government's proposal to create a historians' commission to
study the Armenian Genocide.
Minister Mackey assured the Canadian-Armenian community that the
Canadian Government's policy on the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide has "not changed. Nothing has changed in that regard,"
stressed Mr. MacKay.
In response to a question from Aris Babikian, Horizon Weekly
representative to NEPMCC and the executive director of the Armenian
National Committee of Canada (ANCC), Mr. MacKay stated: "Canada would
support a joint study that would involve participation from academics
from both countries with the inclusion, perhaps, a neutral country
that would be acceptable to both. So a dialogue around what is clearly
incredibly sensitive and loaded issue could lead to greater meeting of
minds plus an opening of a dialogue on other important issues-trade,
travel, greater communication, the blockade of Armenia-is useful
exercise that might bring about some greater healing."
In response to studies by more than 450 historians and international
organizations confirming the uncontested historical reality of the
Armenian Genocide, Mr. MacKay said: "I am not disputing what you
[Babikian] said in terms of the amount of study that has accrued
already."
In a related story, Robert Kocharian, president of Armenia, replied
to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's proposal to form
a historians' commission by saying: "A suggestion to address the
past cannot be effective if it deflects from addressing the present
and the future. In order to engage in a useful dialogue, we need to
create the appropriate and conducive political environment. It is the
responsibility of governments to develop bilateral relations and we do
not have the right to delegate that responsibility to historians. That
is why we have proposed and propose again that, without pre-conditions,
we establish normal relations between our two countries."
"Minister MacKay's clarifications are greatly appreciated by the
ANCC and the Canadian-Armenian Community. To build neighbourly and
friendly relations Armenia and Turkey must talk and establish joint
intergovernmental commissions to discuses all outstanding issues
between the two countries," said Babikian. "After all Armenia and
Turkey are bound to coexist and prosper next to each other."
#
The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range
of issues.
Regional Chapters
Montreal - Laval - Ottawa - Toronto - Hamilton - Cambridge - St.
Catharines - Windsor - Vancouver