Monday, April 12, 2010
A s Turkish Canadians of varied political views, social status and religious identity, we call on the Parliament
and the Government to resist being drawn into re-writing history and passing a legal verdict by labelling
the tragic events of 1915 as “genocide” to characterize much disputed history.
As the Ottoman Empire collapsed during the First World War, the humanitarian cost of this process were incurred by all ethnic groups,
including Turks and Armenians. For over 800 years Turks and Armenians lived peacefully together. The ensuing Great European Power
rivalry, a rise of fervent nationalism, violent uprisings, forced relocations, failure of governance, inter-communal reprisals, epidemics
and hunger regrettably changed this relationship. In 1915, as the Ottoman Empire was trying to defend itself against major military
campaigns by European powers in the west and south during the First World War, signifi cant numbers of Armenians living in Eastern
Anatolia took up arms, revolted and joined the invading Russian forces coming from the north. In their nationalistic fervour to create
a territory where Armenians could become the majority, they committed atrocities on local residents, killing people of other ethnic
backgrounds. This led to an inter-communal war and bloodshed among the peoples of the region, which prompted the Ottoman
government’s decision to relocate the Armenians to a southern region of the Empire. During this displacement, Armenians suffered
immensely. Both sides’ affl ictions were confi ned to the war zone. The history of the era is far too complex for non-specialists and
political bodies to pass judgment at the expense of insulting a nation and the heritage shared by over 50,000 Canadians.
The memory of so much loss of life needs to be respected. We acknowledge this time in history and need to ensure it never happens
again. We also need to establish a reliable factual account of the events of 1915. Given the diverging evidence and massive
losses on both sides, presenting this tragedy simply as “genocide” by one party against another is deeply problematic on a legal,
factual and moral level, while violating Canadian fairness, the principle that we cherish dearly. As applicable to any serious crime,
genocide needs to be ascertained by due process before a verdict can be pronounced. This era was a tragic period in which too
many innocent Turks, Armenians, and others lost their lives. We have to understand and respect the memory of all those who
perished and draw the right lessons from history. However, this cannot be achieved by lending exclusive support to one side. It is
equally wrong and unfair to present the legitimate and scholarly challenges brought against the Armenian claims as “denials.”
We believe Canadian politicians are sincere and well intentioned in their sympathy towards victims of human suffering, abroad
and at home. However, taking the step of branding a nation or people as guilty of the crime of genocide, based on the ethnic
narrative of one side alone, is not just. Genocide is not a generic term to describe a grave human atrocity; it is a clearly defi ned
crime by international and Canadian law. It has to be investigated by historians, archivists and forensic scientists. Only then, can
it be properly addressed in an International Court of Justice prior to being used by our Canadian government.
We therefore call on all Canadians, especially those of Armenian descent, to join us in supporting Turkey and Armenia to improve
their relations and objectively investigate the Ottoman-Armenian tragedy of 1915 through an international historical commission.
We believe that Canada’s support of the recently signed protocols between Turkey and Armenia, which provide for the establishment
of a historical commission to study the tragic events of 1915, will increase chances of peace between these two nations as
well as between Canadians of Turkish and Armenian descents. Canada’s promotion of this constructive process for a much needed
reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia will help all of us here in Canada to build a future together within the Canadian mosaic.
In this appeal, we ask the Parliament and the Government to join in this positive initiative and support the
normalization process between Turkey and Armenia. At the same time, we ask the Members of the Parliament
to encourage Armenian Canadians and Turkish Canadians to join in a peaceful co-existence and remembrance
of both their losses. Most earnestly, we ask you to refrain from passing one-sided judgements by using the term
genocide on the disputed tragedy of 1915.
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