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Postmedia Breaking News
April 7, 2013 Sunday
Turkey wants end to Canada's genocide policy, and seeks free trade deal
OTTAWA - Turkey's ambassador to Canada says the Harper government's
decision to brand the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as
genocide may be hindering a potentially lucrative trading
relationship.
Ambassador Tuncay Babali made clear in a wide ranging interview with
The Canadian Press that Canada's position on the First World War-era
slaughter of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians still carries a sting
for his country.
But that doesn't mean Turkey doesn't want to press on with forging a
deeper economic relationship with Canada, ideally a free trade
agreement to compliment the current Canada-EU free trade talks once
they are completed, he said.
"I'm a true believer in the potential of our two nations. Canada has a
lot to offer Turkey and Turkey in return has a lot to offer Canada,"
said Babali, noting that Canada's internal Foreign Policy Plan has
identified Turkey as a key country of focus.
"It cannot be business as usual while accusing a nation of genocide.
It's a serious allegation. It needs to be substantiated, legally,
historically."
Related
Canada, key allies storm out of UN nuclear meeting in protest of
Iran's 'Israeli genocide ' remarks
Turkey reaches out to EU while embracing Islamicization
Jonathan Kay: A great time for a fresh look at the Armenian Genocide
Babali said he suspects Canada is not engaging as quickly as Turkey
would like because the genocide issue is still hanging over relations.
"There is a pacing issue here," he said. "We want results. We want
action. We want concrete steps forward. Talking about positive things
is ok, but it takes two to tango."
The $2.5 billion in two-way trade between countries "is far from the
potential" of what Turkey predicts would result from deeper economic
ties: $10-$15 billion within five years, he said.
He said Turkey would like to open free trade talks with Canada.
But on the genocide question, Babali said Turkey would like to see a
gesture from Canada that the government is "trying to leave this
behind us."
A significant gesture would be a "high level" visit by Foreign Affairs
Minister John Baird to Turkey. Baird cancelled a planned trip in
November, Babali said, because of an important cabinet meeting in
Ottawa.
Babali was also encourged by Baird's plans to travel to the West Bank
on the week end to discuss future Canadian aid contributions to the
Palestinian Authority.
He suggested Canada can do more in the Middle East peace process, even
though Turkey is well aware of Ottawa's strong support of Israel.
"I think aid is important. To keep the channels open. You have to hear
both sides. Canada has leverage that can play in those issues as well.
It should be used in a stronger way."
Handout/AFP/Getty Images)(FILES) An unlocated document showing an
Armenian woman and a child mourning a young boy during the deportation
of Armenians by the Turks in the second part of the 1910's.
Babali praised the efforts of Baird for m end ing fences with Turkey,
including the personal fri end ship he has forged with his
counterpart, Ahmet Davutolu, who visited Canada this past September.
"We have good room to manoeuvre here after our minister's visit. But
it takes two to tango," he said.
"If there is a political will from the Canadian side to move forward
and improve our relations further, to live up to the promise and
potential, we need concrete steps."
Canada's Parliament voted in 2004 to recognize the events of 1915 to
1923 as a genocide carried out by Ottoman Turks during the Armenian
uprising.
The Harper government formally adopted that position after winning
power, a decision that angered Ankara and sparked the temporary
withdrawal of its ambassador from Ottawa.
Turkey has lobbied hard internationally to block the genocide
designation, although many other countries have used the term.
In 2010, when the U.S. Congress abandoned a plan to declare the
killings a genocide, Davutolu said ties could have been harmed between
the two countries had "common sense" not prevailed.
Last year, when France passed a law that makes it a crime to deny the
Armenian genocide, Turkey responded by susp end ing military, economic
and political ties.
Last summer, Canada took steps to heal the rift with Turkey. It
unveiled a cone-shaped metal-and-wood monument dedicated to Col.
Atilla Altikat, the country's military attache gunned down in Ottawa,
allegedly by Armenian terrorists, 30 years earlier.
That appeared to go a long way towards bridging the gap between the
two countries, both NATO allies.
Babali reiterated what Davutolu said during his visit - that Turkey
would like to strike a joint commission with Armenians to discuss the
historical facts surrounding the issue.
During the visit, Baird did not back away from his government's
earlier position, but said he appreciated the sensitivities at play.
Babali said Turkey wants deeper economic ties with Canada, and it
appears the country is open for business despite any bitterness over
the Armenia policy.
In the next 10 years, Turkey will launch 150 infrastructure projects
worth hundreds of billions of dollars, many in the transportation
sector. Babali cited Bombardier Inc. and SNC-Lavalin as potential
investors.
He also said there are also opportunities for Canadian companies in
his country's developing nuclear energy program and in shale gas
exploration.
April 7, 2013 Sunday
Turkey wants end to Canada's genocide policy, and seeks free trade deal
OTTAWA - Turkey's ambassador to Canada says the Harper government's
decision to brand the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as
genocide may be hindering a potentially lucrative trading
relationship.
Ambassador Tuncay Babali made clear in a wide ranging interview with
The Canadian Press that Canada's position on the First World War-era
slaughter of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians still carries a sting
for his country.
But that doesn't mean Turkey doesn't want to press on with forging a
deeper economic relationship with Canada, ideally a free trade
agreement to compliment the current Canada-EU free trade talks once
they are completed, he said.
"I'm a true believer in the potential of our two nations. Canada has a
lot to offer Turkey and Turkey in return has a lot to offer Canada,"
said Babali, noting that Canada's internal Foreign Policy Plan has
identified Turkey as a key country of focus.
"It cannot be business as usual while accusing a nation of genocide.
It's a serious allegation. It needs to be substantiated, legally,
historically."
Related
Canada, key allies storm out of UN nuclear meeting in protest of
Iran's 'Israeli genocide ' remarks
Turkey reaches out to EU while embracing Islamicization
Jonathan Kay: A great time for a fresh look at the Armenian Genocide
Babali said he suspects Canada is not engaging as quickly as Turkey
would like because the genocide issue is still hanging over relations.
"There is a pacing issue here," he said. "We want results. We want
action. We want concrete steps forward. Talking about positive things
is ok, but it takes two to tango."
The $2.5 billion in two-way trade between countries "is far from the
potential" of what Turkey predicts would result from deeper economic
ties: $10-$15 billion within five years, he said.
He said Turkey would like to open free trade talks with Canada.
But on the genocide question, Babali said Turkey would like to see a
gesture from Canada that the government is "trying to leave this
behind us."
A significant gesture would be a "high level" visit by Foreign Affairs
Minister John Baird to Turkey. Baird cancelled a planned trip in
November, Babali said, because of an important cabinet meeting in
Ottawa.
Babali was also encourged by Baird's plans to travel to the West Bank
on the week end to discuss future Canadian aid contributions to the
Palestinian Authority.
He suggested Canada can do more in the Middle East peace process, even
though Turkey is well aware of Ottawa's strong support of Israel.
"I think aid is important. To keep the channels open. You have to hear
both sides. Canada has leverage that can play in those issues as well.
It should be used in a stronger way."
Handout/AFP/Getty Images)(FILES) An unlocated document showing an
Armenian woman and a child mourning a young boy during the deportation
of Armenians by the Turks in the second part of the 1910's.
Babali praised the efforts of Baird for m end ing fences with Turkey,
including the personal fri end ship he has forged with his
counterpart, Ahmet Davutolu, who visited Canada this past September.
"We have good room to manoeuvre here after our minister's visit. But
it takes two to tango," he said.
"If there is a political will from the Canadian side to move forward
and improve our relations further, to live up to the promise and
potential, we need concrete steps."
Canada's Parliament voted in 2004 to recognize the events of 1915 to
1923 as a genocide carried out by Ottoman Turks during the Armenian
uprising.
The Harper government formally adopted that position after winning
power, a decision that angered Ankara and sparked the temporary
withdrawal of its ambassador from Ottawa.
Turkey has lobbied hard internationally to block the genocide
designation, although many other countries have used the term.
In 2010, when the U.S. Congress abandoned a plan to declare the
killings a genocide, Davutolu said ties could have been harmed between
the two countries had "common sense" not prevailed.
Last year, when France passed a law that makes it a crime to deny the
Armenian genocide, Turkey responded by susp end ing military, economic
and political ties.
Last summer, Canada took steps to heal the rift with Turkey. It
unveiled a cone-shaped metal-and-wood monument dedicated to Col.
Atilla Altikat, the country's military attache gunned down in Ottawa,
allegedly by Armenian terrorists, 30 years earlier.
That appeared to go a long way towards bridging the gap between the
two countries, both NATO allies.
Babali reiterated what Davutolu said during his visit - that Turkey
would like to strike a joint commission with Armenians to discuss the
historical facts surrounding the issue.
During the visit, Baird did not back away from his government's
earlier position, but said he appreciated the sensitivities at play.
Babali said Turkey wants deeper economic ties with Canada, and it
appears the country is open for business despite any bitterness over
the Armenia policy.
In the next 10 years, Turkey will launch 150 infrastructure projects
worth hundreds of billions of dollars, many in the transportation
sector. Babali cited Bombardier Inc. and SNC-Lavalin as potential
investors.
He also said there are also opportunities for Canadian companies in
his country's developing nuclear energy program and in shale gas
exploration.