Each year on April 24^th, Armenian activists organize demonstrations on the Parliament Hill in Ottawa, commemorating an alleged “genocide”. For over 800 years, Turks and Armenians lived peacefully together within the same Empire. The final years of the Ottoman Empire were a tragic period. Turks, Armenians and other inhabitants of Eastern Anatolia suffered immensely from an inter-communal warfare, triggered by land claims. However, the Armenian nationalist view of history singles out the Armenian suffering, embellishing and presenting it as genocide perpetrated by the Ottomans.

Genocide is a legal term that is clearly defined in the 1948 UN Convention. Unlike the case of Holocaust and Rwanda, there has never been a decision of an international tribunal labelling the events of 1915 as “genocide.” Furthermore, many reputable historians refute the genocide thesis, questioning the misuse of the term within the context of this two-sided conflict. Therefore, adopting a much-politicized term and passing judgement on an ongoing dispute does not serve justice, and defies Canadian fairness and objectivity, while being counterproductive for the process of reconciliation.

The memory of lost lives of Turks, Armenians and other people of the region needs to be respected, and correct lessons need to be drawn. We need to go beyond the politics of the tragic past and establish a factual account of history. This can be accomplished through an honest and open dialogue between Turks and Armenians.

As we approach April 24, 2012, we respectfully request the representatives of the Government of Canada, political parties and the media to refrain from referring the tragic events of 1915 as “genocide” and promote constructive steps towards reconciliation, peace and friendly relations between Turks and Armenians.

About the Council of Turkish Canadians

The CTC is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to advocate and promote on behalf of Canadians of Turkish origin.

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Contact:

Council of Turkish Canadians

Tel: 613-422-3622

CTC@turkishcanadians.com

Enclosure: Background note on the Turkish-Armenian controversy over the history and the involvement of Canada

BACKGROUND NOTE ON THE TURKISH-ARMENIAN CONTROVERSY OVER HISTORY AND THE INVOLVEMENT OF CANADA

THE TURKISH-CANADIAN RELATIONS

Turkish-Canadian Relations have been adversely affected by the exclusive support given by Canada to the Armenian version of the historical controversy regarding the tragedy of 1915.

Given the common goals and ideals Turkey and Canada share as NATO allies and the growing challenges we face in the Middle East, there is significant potential for cooperation between the two countries in various fields, politically and economically, to engage in joint initiatives, especially in Turkey’s surrounding region. That potential is not being tapped due to the hindrance caused by the Armenian issue.

WHY TURKISH CANADIANS REACT TO GOVERNMENT’S POSITION?

While there are 20 Parliaments which have adopted declarations supporting the Armenian claims (in Canada: the Motion of the Senate in 2002 and the Private Member’s Motion M-380 of the House of Commons in 2004) Canada is the only country where the Government (executive branch) pronounces a “verdict” on the events of 1915 by recognizing them as genocide.

Previous Canadian governments had not associated themselves with the declarations of the Parliament; however the present government did so in 2006 and has repeated it every April.

IS THERE NOT AN AGREEMENT THAT GENOCIDE TOOK PLACE?

No. Unlike what is propagated by certain interest groups, there is no scholarly consensus in Canada about the matter. In 2008, a panel of Canadian experts concluded: “Holocaust denial is an illegitimate dispute. Labelling of the Armenian massacres as genocide is legitimate dispute, with reputable historians denying that the deaths of the Armenians during World War I should be characterized as genocide”. This group was responding to Toronto District School Board’s question. The experts did clearly show that there is a “legitimate scholarly debate” about the matter.

Again, unlike what is often assumed, there is no political consensus in Canada, or elsewhere, about the Armenian claims of genocide. In 2004, 68 MPs voted against the label of genocide (153 voted in favour, 77 abstained). The lack of consensus was most visible within the Conservative Party: 35 Yes, 16 No votes and 22 abstentions.

The common mistake is to use the word genocide very loosely. Genocide is a well-defined crime. Its legal definition emanates from the 1948 Convention on Genocide. Because it is more than a generic term to characterize a terrible act, it needs to be ascertained by a legitimate international court of law after due process.

What determines genocide is not necessarily the number of casualties or the cruelty of the persecution but the “intent to destroy” a group. Historically, the “intent to destroy a race” has emerged only as the culmination of racism, as in the case of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust. Turks have never harboured any anti-Armenian feelings.

Since the “crime” of genocide has a specific legal definition, Parliaments, political bodies or national courts are not the proper places to pronounce judgment on it. Yes, in 20 countries where there are influential Armenian constituencies, Parliaments have taken this questionable step. However, no Government, except in Canada, has delivered a verdict on this crime.

All in all, national memories are always partial and do not overlap in many cases. When collective memories clash, the need for proper scholarly studies becomes even more important because a reliable, factual basis is needed.

ARE TURKS DENIALISTS?

Turks do not minimize the suffering of the Armenians during World War I. Too many Armenians, Turks, most of them innocent people, died or were killed during the tragedy that included the chaotic circumstances of revolts, Armenian armed groups joining the invading Russian army, inter-communal violence, poorly carried out relocations, diseases and starvation, as well as war induced causes. However, there was no intent to wipe out an ethnic or religious community, the central criterion for the crime of genocide. In other words, the loss of lives was not the result of a premeditated plan. Otherwise Armenians not involved with the revolts and war would also have suffered and Armenians serving as public officials in the Ottoman government would not have kept their positions.

What Turks reject is the singling out of the Armenian suffering and accusing Turks as a nation that has committed genocide. This view is based on the Armenian national narrative that has monopolized the public debate in Canada. It is due to the very absence of a legal or scholarly consensus that Armenian groups have been seeking political support for their version of history.

Providing scholarly arguments, archival documents, as well as personal accounts of Turks of the period to challenge the Armenian claims, is not “denial”. This challenge is morally and historically legitimate. Portraying Turks and others who oppose the Armenian claims as if they were like the marginal deniers of the Holocaust is not only unfair to Turks but also to Jews.

What Turkish Canadians oppose is the attempt to impose the national memory of one side upon the other. We need a just memory to replace the clash of memories. This can be done through a common effort to empathize with each other based upon a reliable factual account. This is why all Armenian archives have to be opened to researchers, just like the already accessible Turkish archives.

IMPACT OF CANADA’S POSITION ON TURKISH CANADIANS

Canada’s support to the Armenian diaspora groups in the past emboldened the nationalist groups in their intransigence and has been unhelpful to the Turkish-Armenian process. Furthermore, Turkish-Canadian bilateral relations have suffered from Canada’s stance and the Turkish Canadian community felt increasingly disowned in their adopted country. One-sided reading of history based on the Armenian narrative give scope to highly vocal nationalist Armenian groups and do harm Canadians of Turkish origin. Our children are bullied in schoolyards and university campuses, smear campaigns are organized against Turkish Canadian candidates in local elections and a biased account of that period is included in history books.

Canadians of Turkish origin expect that Canada, given its traditional reputation to deal with disputes as a reliable, fair actor, provide a positive contribution to Turkish-Armenian process and become a part of the solution.

Ottawa, ON, March 15, 2012 – The Council of Turkish Canadians deplores the actions of the Armenian activist Ara Sarafian presenting a booklet, “Talaat Pasha’s Report on the Armenian Genocide, 1917” in Montreal and other cities, who is accused of pirating intellectual property, as well as distorting its content, belonging to a well-known Turkish journalist Murat Bardakçi.

In 2008, Mr. Bardakçi published a book, in Turkish,  named “The Remaining Documents of Talat Pasha: Documents and Important Correspondence Found in the Private Archives of Sadrazam Talat Pasha about the Armenian Deportations”. This book is based on Talat Pasha’s private documents from 1917. Mr. Bardakçi used these documents to illustrate with many facts that the empire’s relocation of Ottoman Armenians in 1915 in Eastern Anatolia was an act of legitimate national self-defence during WWI.  In this turbulent period of history, Armenian militants and combatants, being Ottoman subjects at the time, took arms against the State and thereby committed high treason.

In the original Talat Pasha documents, there are statistics of Armenian subjects relocated within the Ottoman Empire. Mr. Bardakçi shows that the majority of the relocates were settled in areas now known as Syria, Lebanon and Iraq (then Ottoman provinces), where many later migrated to France, the USA, etc to become the Diaspora Armenians.

Now, Mr. Sarafian, without permission of the author or his publisher, has distorted Mr. Bardakçi’s material as “evidence” for an alleged genocide. Sarafian’s booklet is entitled: Talaat Pasha’s Report on the Armenian Genocide, 1917. The word “genocide” did not exist in 1917, nor was there a “Talat Pasha’s Report”. There were only private documents given to Mr. Bardakçi in 1982 by Talat Pasha’s wife and a few more material later by his granddaughter. However, on page 11 of his book Sarafian states: “All information presented in the following pages is derived from Talaat’s original report.”

Mr. Bardakçi, the owner of the Talat Pasha’s private documents and the author of the original book, is furious that his work has been pirated and distorted to serve the Diaspora’s unjust “genocide” narrative. He has threatened legal action. (See his article attached, “Diaspora has stolen my book!” – Monday, August 8, 2011)

In the meantime, Mr. Sarafian is selling and distributing his booklet through the Armenian organization Gomidas Institute, London and promoting it in various cities in Canada.

CTC strongly deplores this kind of propaganda and misinformation by Ara Sarafian.  With much sorrow, we believe that the memory of Armenians and Turks who have lost their lives during the war-time tragedy of 1915 deserve better than distortions and falsehoods.

Regrettably, this is not the first time Armenian claims have been based on questionable documentation. In fact, Talat Pasha’s name has long been linked to a set of forged documents known as “Andonian Telegrams” or “Talat Pasha Telegrams.”

About the Council of Turkish Canadians

The CTC is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to advocate and promote on behalf of Canadians of Turkish origin.

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Contact:

Council of Turkish Canadians

Tel: 613-422-3622

CTC@turkishcanadians.com

Enclosure: “Diaspora has stolen my book!” by Murat Bardakçi

Murat Bardakçi

Haber Turk

http://www.haberturk.com/yazarlar/murat-bardakci/656496-diyaspora-kitabimi-caldi

Diaspora has stolen my book!

Monday, August 8 2011, 10:51:24

Gomidas Vartaped, whose real name is Sogomon Sogomonyan, was an Armenian musician.

He was born in 1869 in Kutahya, became a priest, was arrested by Ottoman State for supporting the revolts before the relocation in 1915, and was sent to a camp in Cankiri along with other leading community members. He was released with the help of his friends who were close to the Ittihat and Terraki Party, and went back to Istanbul but he apparently lost his mind. He went to France for treatment, stayed in a hospital for years in Paris and died in this hospital on October 22, 1935.

Later on, Gomidas was introduced as “the biggest master of the Armenian Music”. They took his ashes and brought them to Armenia and buried in a memorial in Eçmiyadzin.

Sure enough, he lived an unfortunate life and had a bad fate.

After such a long time, Diaspora Armenians, established an organization named after this unfortunate musician in London: Gomidas Institute…

THEY CHOSE TO STEAL!

This institute is organizing all sorts of activities, releasing publications, organizing meetings, and events, all with the intent of keeping alive the hatred of the 1915 events, and in the mean time it has resorted to stealing as well.

I was their last victim of stealing: Ara Sarafian, head of this institute, took, actually stole my book which was published two years ago “Talat Pasa’s Evrak-i Metrukesi (The Remaining Documents of Talat Pasha)”, translated some parts to suit his purpose, added some comments according to his mind and then published it under his name without any concern to truth or shame. Now Gomidas Institute is busy marketing my book as if it was Ara Sarafyan’s work for 18 dollars.

The claims of genocide came to this point. It is even worse than plagiarism, it is clearly stealing. And the thief is most glorious supporter of the Armenian Diaspora’s narrative Ara Sarafyan whom our media exalted a while ago, even tried to bring him face to face with Prof. Yusuf Halacoglu, former president of Turkish Historical Society. Sarafyan was supposed to defeat Prof. Halacoglu and through Halacoglu people who think “Oh what a bad nation we Turks are, we shed a lot of blood in 1915, what if we apologize?” would be happy. However, delaying this meeting by saying “I am coming, I am about to come, I came” Sarafyan realized that this was not a good idea and like the response of President of Armenia to our reconciliation initiative, he changed his mind at the very last moment and did not come.

WHAT KIND OF AMBITION IS THIS?

It looks like Ara Sarafyan gave up on discussing the issue but chose to steal my book instead. The proof of his theft is my book!

He took the documents of Talat Pasha, originals of which were given to me by Talat Pasha’s deceased wife Hayriya Talat in the beginning of 1980s and published in my book after being preserved for 25 years, he even distorted the maps and published it under his name. What kind of book is his book?  He added his own dubious comments under some of the original documents according to his own mind, I mean distorted them and in the mean time he did not forget me, of course he did not use my name on the cover of the book but mentioned my name in a couple of footnotes.

It is difficult to understand what kind of extremism is this ambition that makes one to steal and plunder in Europe where copyrights are protected very strictly and equated with one’s honour. We will find out ultimately as the lawyers of my publisher Everest Publishing have initiated a legal case.

“On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to renew our expression of deep sympathy to the Colonel’s family and friends, as well as to the Government of Turkey and the Turkish people.

“Canada condemns such violence as a means of furthering political objectives.

“On this day, we underline our commitment to working with our Turkish partners to combat terrorism in all its forms.”

The only foreign diplomat to be killed in an act of international terrorism on Canadian soil, Colonel Altikat was assassinated on the morning of August 27, 1982, on his way to work in Ottawa. Canada remains committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
Follow us on Twitter: @DFAIT_MAECI

To view this document on the department website, please click on the following link:
http://www.international.gc.ca/media/aff/news-communiques/2011/247.aspx

Ottawa, ON, August 17, 2011

Council of Turkish Canadians Boycotts Community Meeting: Karygiannis Unfit to Facilitate

Council of Turkish Canadians (CTC) will not attend a two-day meeting organized by Jim Karygiannis, Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt and Liberal Critic for Multiculturalism, with the members of multicultural communities and stakeholder groups. Mr. Karygiannis is organizing the meeting to discuss issues facing community groups in Canada. However, CTC believes that Mr. Karygiannis’ past attempts to promote ethnic division and intolerance against Canadians of different national origin—Turkish, Azerbaijani and Macedonian, in particular – makes him an illogical choice for both facilitator of this meeting and Liberal Critic for Multiculturalism.

Instead of bringing together the various community groups for constructive and peaceful dialogue, Mr. Karygiannis’ continuous divisive language and actions have created tension and animosity among various community groups in Canada. How can we trust the Multicultural Critic of any party who:

• calls for the expulsion of a Foreign Ambassador from Canada and for his staff to be removed, based on unfounded extremist allegations ( “Protest at the Embassy of Azerbaijan – Honourable Jim Karygiannis” on   YouTube);

• rallies with ultra-nationalist groups who misrepresent and disrespect Turkish and Azerbaijani culture and ancestry, isolating and marginalizing these communities (Jim Karygiannis’ speech at the Armenian protest on Parliament Hill—“DSCF2995.AVI” from account holder ‘jimkarygiannis’ on Youtube)
• was asked to resign due to his “anti-Macedonian hate speech” by  Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (“Macedonians Demand Resignation of Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis” on Reuters.com)

CTC believes that Mr. Karygiannis’ actions are un-Canadian and render him unfit for the position of Liberal Critic for Multiculturalism.  In Canada, citizens are given the benefit of living in a peaceful, respectful, and democratic society—a privilege that is threatened by his actions. While we need to learn from the past, CTC believes that elected officials must also promote reconciliation in the present and future.

CTC is taking this opportunity to express its strongest disapproval for Mr. Karygiannis’ biased and unconstructive attitude towards the Turkish, Azerbaijani, Macedonian and other communities, and ask that the Liberal Party of Canada reconsider its appointment of Mr. Karygiannis to the role of Critic for Multiculturalism.

About the Council of Turkish Canadians

The CTC is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to advocate and promote on behalf of Canadians of Turkish origin.

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Contact:

Council of Turkish Canadians

Tel: 613-422-3622

CTC@turkishcanadians.com

August 26, 2011

Turkish-Canadians gather to remember Colonel Atilla Altikat’s assassination

Ottawa, ON – On Sunday August 28, 2011, Canadians of Turkish origin will once again gather to remember Colonel Atilla Altikat, the Turkish military attaché who was gunned down by Armenian terrorists in Ottawa almost thirty years ago. Col. Altikat was the first victim of international terrorism on Canadian soil. Distinguished Canadians, including Royal Galipeau, M.P., the Hon. Mauril Belanger, M.P., and Cpl. Wayne Russet from RCMP will join the Turkish community at this solemn gathering to remember victims of terrorism and to condemn acts of hatred.

On the morning of August 27, 1982, while driving to work in Ottawa,  Col. Altikat was shot 10 times at point blank range. Armenian terrorist organizations claimed responsibility for the attack. In spite of some leads by journalists and others, no arrests have been made and the murderers remain at large.

“The assassination traumitized our community here in Canada; one of our own had been killed so brutely and so close to home, in Ottawa” said Zahide Sezerman, president of the CTC. “He was a good man, an honorable officer, and a beloved husband and a father. Colonel Altikat’s assassination shocked  our community and disturbed Canadians. We were all impacted by an act of  terrorism, which inhumanely encourages the killing of innocent people for political purposes.”

Between 1973 and 1986, Armenian terrorist attacks have killed 70 people, 31 of whom were Turkish diplomats, and wounded 524 innocent people. A Canadian security officer was also killed when three heavily armed Armenian terrorists stormed the Turkish Embassy in Ottawa in 1985. Instead of working constructively and peacefully to resolve their issues, these terrorists resorted to acts of violence to impress upon the world their version of history. In the fight against terrorism, we must remember the victims of these terrorist acts and employ all means necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Turkish community of Canada would like to reiterate its disappointment regarding the lack of progress in finding the killers of Colonel Altikat. We appeal to our officials, particularily the RCMP, to redouble their efforts to shed light on this political homicide.

While we continue to remember Colonel Altikat every year, we do not harbour feelings of vengeance or enmity. We do, however, call on the relevant agencies and our political leaders to stand firmly against extremism and work to bring closure to this case.
The commemoration ceremony will take place at the intersection of Ottawa River Parkway and Island Park Drive at 3:00 pm, on Sunday August 28, 2011.

About the Council of Turkish Canadians

The CTC is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to advocate and promote on behalf of Canadians of Turkish origin.

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Contact:

Council of Turkish Canadians

Tel: 613-422-3622

CTC@turkishcanadians.com

We deeply regret that the Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s statement issued on April 23, 2011 reflects an uninformed and one-sided representation of history, with potentially far reaching consequences on peace and harmony within Canada’s multicultural fabric.

As Canadians of Turkish descent, we share the grief of all who lost their ancestors during the events of World War I. Yet, supporting the use of a legal term; genocide, in the absence of neither an international court decision nor a consensus among historians is misleading and unacceptable.

The final years of the Ottoman Empire were a tragic period. Turks, Armenians and other inhabitants of Eastern Anatolia suffered immensely from an inter-communal warfare. However, singling out the Armenian sufferings and ignoring nearly 2.5 million Turks and other inhabitants of the region within the Ottoman Empire who perished or were killed directly or indirectly by Armenian rebels in cohorts with invading Russian forces, does not serve justice, and defies Canadian fairness and objectivity.

Prime Minister argues that “We must never forget the lessons of history.  Nor should we allow the enmities of history to divide us.” We agree with him. The memory of lost lives of Armenians, Turks and other peoples of the region needs to be respected, and correct lessons need to be learned and remembered. However, taking sides on historical events serves no purpose other than creating deep rifts between two communities. We need to go beyond the politics of the tragic past and establish a factual account of history. This can be accomplished through an honest and open dialogue between Turks and Armenians who signed protocols including the formation of an international commission of historians to conduct an impartial scientific examination of the events. Unfortunately, this was strongly opposed by the Armenian Diaspora.

We expect our Government to support dialogue and reconciliation instead of favouring the narrative of one group, which undermines peace and harmony in Canada. We expect our Prime Minister to act in the best interest of Canada and refuse to become a political instrument of an ethnic group in propagating one-sided view of history at the expense of dividing the Canadians of different ethnic origins and damaging relations with a NATO ally and trade partner; the Republic of Turkey, while tarnishing the international reputation of Canada as a peace builder and peace broker.

About the Council of Turkish Canadians

CTC is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to advocate and promote on behalf of Canadians of Turkish origin.

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Contact:

Council of Turkish Canadians

Tel: 613-422-3622

CTC@turkishcanadians.com

Turkish‐Canadian Relations have been adversely affected by the exclusive support given by Canada to the Armenian version of the historical controversy regarding the tragedy of 1915.
Given the common goals and ideals Turkey and Canada share as NATO allies, there is significant potential for cooperation between two countries in various fields, politically and economically, to engage in joint initiatives, especially in Turkey’s surrounding region. That potential is not being tapped due to the hindrance caused by the Armenian issue.

WHY TURKEY REACTS TO CANADA’S POSITION?

While there are 20 Parliaments which have adopted declarations supporting the Armenian claims (in Canada: the Motion of the Senate in 2002 and the Private Member’s Motion M‐380 of the House of Commons in 2004) Canada is the only country where the Government (executive branch) pronounces a “verdict” on the events of 1915 by recognizing them as genocide.

Previous Canadian governments had not associated themselves with the declarations of the Parliament; however the present government did so in 2006 and has repeated it every April.

IS THERE NOT AN AGREEMENT THAT GENOCIDE TOOK PLACE?

No. Unlike what is assumed, there is no scholarly consensus even in Canada about the matter. In 2008, a panel of Canadian experts concluded: “Holocaust denial is an illegitimate dispute. Labelling of the Armenian massacres as genocide is legitimate dispute, with reputable historians denying that the deaths of the Armenians during World War I should be characterized as genocide”. This group was responding to Toronto District School Board’s question. The experts did clearly show that there is a “legitimate scholarly debate” about the matter.

Again, unlike what is often assumed, there is no political consensus in Canada, or elsewhere, about the Armenian claims of genocide. In 2004, 68 MPs voted against the label of genocide (153 voted in favour, 77 abstained). The lack of consensus was most visible within the Conservative Party: 35 Yes, 16 No votes and 22 abstentions.

The common mistake is to use the word genocide very loosely. Genocide is a well‐defined crime. Its legal definition emanates from the 1948 Convention on Genocide. Because it is more than a generic term to characterize a terrible act, it needs to be ascertained by a legitimate international court of law after due process.

Since the “crime” of genocide has a specific legal definition, Parliaments, political bodies or national courts are not the proper places to pronounce judgment on it. Yes, in 20 countries where there are influential Armenian constituencies, Parliaments have taken this questionable step. However, no Government, except in Canada, has delivered a verdict on this crime.

ARE TURKS DENIALISTS?

Turks do not minimize the suffering of the Armenians during World War One. Too many Armenians, Turks, most of them innocent people, died or were killed during the tragedy that included the chaotic circumstances of revolts, Armenian armed groups joining the invading Russian army, inter‐communal violence, poorly carried out relocations, diseases and starvation, as well as war induced causes. However, there was no intent to wipe out an ethnic or religious community, the central criterion for the crime of genocide. In other words, the loss of lives was not the result of a premeditated plan. Otherwise Armenians not involved with the revolts and war would also have suffered and Armenians serving as public officials in the Ottoman government would not have kept their positions.

What Turks reject is the singling out of the Armenian suffering and accusing Turks as a nation that has committed genocide. This view is based on the Armenian national narrative that has monopolized the public debate in Canada. It is due to the very absence of a legal or scholarly consensus that Armenian groups have been seeking political support for their version of history.

To challenge the Armenian claims by providing scholarly arguments, archival documents, as well as personal accounts of Turks of the period, is not “denial”. This challenge is morally and historically legitimate. Portraying Turks and others opposing the Armenian claims as if they were like the marginal deniers of the Holocaust is not only unfair to Turks but also to Jews.

What Turkey opposes is the attempt to impose the national memory of one side upon the other. We need a just memory to replace the clash of memories. This can be done through a common effort to empathize with each other based upon a reliable factual account. That is why all Armenian archives have to be opened to researchers as are Turkish archives already. Turkey’s seeking normalization with Armenia aims also to achieve this goal.

THE PROCESS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA

Turkey tried to initiate a positive process with Armenia over the last few years. It opened all its archives and proposed to set up an international historical commission with Armenia. Finally, with the mediation of Switzerland, the two governments signed on 10 October 2009 in Zurich two Protocols to normalize their relations based on an agreed timeframe.

Protocols also envisage a joint “impartial scientific examination of the historical records and archives to define existing problems and formulate recommendations”.

The strong opposition from the highly vocal nationalist Armenian diaspora groups to the normalization between Turkey and Armenia have complicated the process. The diaspora groups which were vehemently against normalization and the protocols seem less worried lately. First came the problematic opinion issued by the Armenian Constitutional Court making reference to the Chart of Independence stipulating that “The Republic of Armenia stands in support of the task of achieving international recognition of the 1915 Genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia”. In so doing, the Armenian Constitutional Court has overstepped its bounds by interfering in the executive branch and tying up the hands of the Armenian Government in a way that would make it impossible for the latter to engage in a free and scientific study of the past. Also, the reference to “Western Armenia” (Eastern Anatolia) clearly reflects territorial claims from Turkey. This was soon followed by the Armenian Government’s announcement to suspend the ratification process. Despite this negative turn in Armenia, Turkey keeps its door open to taking the process further.

One of the main motivations for Turkey in initiating a process with Armenia was the need to foster stability and peace in the south Caucasus. The failure to resolve the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan need to be reversed. Unfortunately, Armenian diaspora is also opposed to the resolution according to international law of the Nogorno Karabakh issue (Azeri territories occupied by Armenian forces in 1992‐the occupation has been criticized by the UN and OSCE).

Admittedly, Turkey‐Armenia track and the Armenia‐Azerbaijan track are to be negotiated separately. Each has its own negotiating platforms. However, the interaction between the two tracks should not be denied either. The two tracks are mutually reinforcing; a positive move in one track will facilitate progress in the other.

The relevance of the Nogorno Karabakh issue to the Turkish‐Armenian process was demonstrated by the presence at the Protocol signing ceremony in Zurich of the three co‐chairs (US, French and Russian Foreign Ministers) of the Minsk Group which deals with the Nogorno Karabakh dispute.

IMPACT OF CANADA’S POSITION ON TURKISH CANADIANS

Canada’s support to the Armenian diaspora groups in the past emboldened the nationalist groups in their intransigence and has been unhelpful to the Turkish‐Armenian process. Furthermore, Turkish‐Canadian bilateral relations have suffered from Canada’s stance and the Turkish Canadian community felt increasingly disowned in their adopted country. One sided reading of history based on the Armenian narrative give scope to highly vocal nationalist Armenian groups and do harm Canadians of Turkish origin. Our children are bullied in schoolyards and university campuses, smear campaigns are organized against Turkish Canadian candidates in local elections and a biased account of that period is included in history books.

Canadians of Turkish origin expect that Canada, given its traditional reputation to deal with disputes as a reliable, fair actor, provide a positive contribution to Turkish‐Armenian process and become a part of the solution.

CTC calls Canada to be impartial and support the reconciliation process between Turkey and Armenia

Ottawa, ON, April 18, 2011 – Council of Turkish Canadians (CTC) calls on the Government of Canada, all political parties and the media to support the reconciliation process between Turkey and Armenia concerning tragic events that took place 96 years ago in Eastern Anatolia. Canada should encourage Armenia to remain committed to its agreement with Turkey which includes the formation of an international commission of historians to conduct an impartial scientific examination of the historical events of 1915 during WWI, as agreed upon in the Zurich Protocols signed in October 2009.

Each year on April 24th, Armenian activists organize demonstrations on the Parliament Hill in Ottawa, commemorating an alleged “genocide”. For over 800 years Turks and Armenians lived peacefully together within the same Empire. The final years of the Ottoman Empire were a tragic period. Turks, Armenians and other inhabitants of Eastern Anatolia suffered immensely from an inter-communal warfare. The Armenian nationalist view of history singles out the Armenian suffering, embellishing and presenting it as genocide perpetrated by the Ottomans. It should be noted that genocide is a legal term that is clearly defined in the 1948 UN Convention. Unlike the case of Holocaust and Rwanda, there has never been a decision of an international tribunal labelling the events of 1915 as “genocide.” Therefore, adopting this much politicized term and passing judgement on an ongoing dispute does not serve justice, and defies Canadian fairness and objectivity.

The memory of lost lives of Turks, Armenians and other people of the region – mostly innocent civilians – needs to be respected, and correct lessons need to be learned. We need to go beyond the politics of the tragic past and establish a factual account of history. This can be accomplished through an honest and open dialogue between Turks and Armenians.

As we approach April 24, 2011, we respectfully request the representatives of the Government of Canada, political parties and the media to refrain from referring the tragic events of 1915 as “genocide” and promote constructive steps towards reconciliation, peace and friendly relations between Turks and Armenians.
About the Council of Turkish Canadians

The CTC is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to advocate and promote on behalf of Canadians of Turkish origin.

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Contact:
Council of Turkish Canadians
Tel: 613-422-3622
CTC@turkishcanadians.com

Ottawa, ON, August 26, 2010

Turkish-Canadians gather to remember Colonel Atilla Altikat’s assassination

Ottawa, ON, August 26, 2010 – Canadians of Turkish origin gather once again to remember Colonel Atilla Altikat, on Sunday, August 29, 2010, at the intersection of Ottawa River Parkway and Island Park Drive where he was gunned down by Armenian terrorists and became the first victim of international terrorism on Canadian soil. Distinguished Canadians, including MP Royal Galipeau are expected to join his Excellency Rafet Akgunay, Ambassador of Republic of Turkey, at this sad gathering to condemn acts of hatred and to remember victims of terrorism.

On the morning of August 27, 1982, while driving to work in Ottawa,  Col. Altikat, the military attaché at the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, was shot 10 times at point blank range. Armenian terrorist organizations claimed responsibility for the attack. In spite of some leads by journalists and others, no arrests have been made and the murderers remain at large.

“It was a traumatic event for us when a friend of ours, representing our country of origin, was killed in Ottawa” said Kevser Taymaz, president of the CTC. “He was an honorable officer doing his job, a beloved husband and a father. It was through Colonel Altikat’s assassination that our community, and Canadians in general, learned what terrorism was: killing of innocent people for political purposes.”

Between 1973 and 1986, Armenian terrorist attacks killed 70 people, 31 of them Turkish diplomats, and wounded 524 innocent people. They resorted to violence to impress their version of history upon the world public opinion, including Canada.

We are confident that these fanatics do not represent the whole of the Armenian community, especially at a time when Turkey and Armenia are finding constructive ways to deal with the debate that surrounds a tragic period of their long and mostly peaceful history.

As Canadians of Turkish origin, we hope that our Canadian Government will help facilitate Turkish-Armenian normalization processes. We take great pride in Canada’s traditional roles as peace maker/keeper and mediator. We hope that this experience can be applied to the relations between Turks and Armenians at home in Canada as well as between Turkey and Armenia. The protocols signed between Turkey and Armenia are a good first step and need to be supported.

At the same time, the Turkish community of Canada would like to stress its disappointment at the lack of progress in finding the killers of Colonel Altikat. We appeal to our officials, and especially to the RCMP, to redouble their efforts to shed light on this political homicide.

In the fight against terrorism, we need to remember its victims and employ all means to bring the perpetrators to justice. While we continue to remember Colonel Altikat every year, we do not have feelings of vengeance or enmity during these solemn ceremonies. However, we call on the relevant agencies and our political representatives to stand firmly against extremism and hate propaganda and to finally bring closure to this case through definitive criminal procedures.
About the Council of Turkish Canadians

The CTC is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to advocate and promote on behalf of Canadians of Turkish origin.

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Contact:

Council of Turkish Canadians

Tel: 613-422-3622

CTC@turkishcanadians.com

We call on the Government of Armenia not to give into the pressure of nationalistic groups in Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora which have been opposing the process of reconciliation from the very beginning. Canada should encourage Armenia to remain committed to its agreement with Turkey to establish an international commission of historians to conduct an “impartial scientific examination” of the historical events, as decided in the Protocols.

For over 800 years Turks and Armenians lived peacefully together. During the First World War, Great European Power rivalry, a rise of fervent nationalism, violent uprisings, forced relocations, failure of governance, inter-communal reprisals, epidemics and famine regrettably changed this relationship. Armenians suffered immensely in Anatolia. Turks suffered in greater numbers across a wider geography as the Empire was torn apart.

This suffering was enormous regardless of the appropriate legal terminology that needs to be applied. However, since the word “genocide” is a clearly defined crime under international law, adopting this term without the required due process does not serve to produce justice. Failure by the Canadian Parliament to resist being drawn into pronouncing a verdict on this yet-to-be fully investigated tragedy by presenting it as genocide by one group against another is at best a selective show of compassion.

The growing literature challenging Armenian claims and allegations cannot be brushed aside given its scholarly and historical value. The accusation of “denial” is unfair and misleading. Objective assessment of Armenian claims and the resulting arguments that challenge Armenian views are legitimate and necessary for the pursuit of truth and reconciliation.

The memory of so many dead, Turkish, Armenian, and others, mostly innocent civilians, needs to be respected and the right lessons need to be drawn. For this to be done properly, we need to courageously go beyond the national memories of either side and establish a more reliable factual account. Impressing upon the other side what it has registered in its own memory is not productive. Turks and Armenians can seek mutual empathy and eventually find ways of rebuilding a common future.

We therefore call on Canadians of Armenian descent, without expecting them to change their historical interpretations overnight, to join us in supporting Turkey and Armenia who agreed to improve their relations and to scientifically investigate the historical record of the time. The protocols signed in Zurich for normalizing the relations between Turkey and Armenia need to be taken forward.

We call on the Parliament and the Government to join in this positive initiative by supporting the reconciliation process and encouraging Armenian Canadians as well as the Government of Armenia to work for peaceful co-existence.