Turkey condemns Canada's genocide vote
CTV.ca News Staff
Turkey is condemning a decision by the House of Commons to approve a motion calling the Armenian genocide a "crime against humanity."
Parliament voted Wednesday 153-86 in favour of a private member's bill formally recognizing the genocide of Armenians during the First World War.
Turkey had warned that Canada would face economic consequences if it recognized the killings as genocide, and in a statement issued Thursday accused Canadian legislators of being "narrow-minded."
"Some narrow minded Canadian politicians were not able to understand that such decisions based on ... prejudiced information, will awaken feelings of hatred among people of different (ethnic) roots and disturb social harmony," the statement said.
The Canadian Embassy in Turkey issued a statement Thursday distancing itself from the vote.
"Debates and votes on private member's business in the House of Commons are an integral part of the Canadian democratic process but private members' motions are not binding on the Government of Canada," it said.
It also reiterated Canada's position on the killings from a June 10,1999, vote in the House of Commons as "tragic."
Prime Minister Paul Martin denied allegations that his free votes held much weight.
"The Parliament of Canada has essentially expressed the view of parliamentarians as they see them reflected in the country as a whole," Martin told reporters in Ottawa today.
"Obviously Parliament can have views at the same time government has views," he added, saying that was one of the benefits of parliament reform and parliamentary democracy.
Martin was absent for the vote on the motion, which read: "... this House acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against humanity."
About 1.5 million people were killed between 1915-1923, during a campaign to force them out of eastern Turkey.
Turkey's government rejects the label of genocide, saying 2.5 million Muslims were also killed during this period of civil unrest. It estimates 600,000 Armenians were killed.
Canada is among a handful of countries to formally label the killings as genocide. They include Switzerland, France, Argentina, Russia, as well as U.S. state governments. The United Nations have also recognized the genocide.
When French legislators recognized the genocide in 2001, Turkey cancelled millions of dollars worth of defence contracts.
Most Liberal backbenchers voted for the motion Wednesday, while many cabinet ministers were not present.
Martin was accused by the opposition of hypocrisy for promising more free votes but not showing up for this one.
Liberal MP Hedy Fry, who voted for the motion, said it's important to remember the atrocities were carried out by the Ottoman empire, which has since been replaced by the current Turkish state.
"I think we need to recognize the past," she said.
"I think it doesn't mean we've broken ties with the current regime in Turkey. They are our colleagues, they are our NATO allies. They are a moderate, Muslim government and I think we need to work with them."
CTV.ca News Staff
Turkey is condemning a decision by the House of Commons to approve a motion calling the Armenian genocide a "crime against humanity."
Parliament voted Wednesday 153-86 in favour of a private member's bill formally recognizing the genocide of Armenians during the First World War.
Turkey had warned that Canada would face economic consequences if it recognized the killings as genocide, and in a statement issued Thursday accused Canadian legislators of being "narrow-minded."
"Some narrow minded Canadian politicians were not able to understand that such decisions based on ... prejudiced information, will awaken feelings of hatred among people of different (ethnic) roots and disturb social harmony," the statement said.
The Canadian Embassy in Turkey issued a statement Thursday distancing itself from the vote.
"Debates and votes on private member's business in the House of Commons are an integral part of the Canadian democratic process but private members' motions are not binding on the Government of Canada," it said.
It also reiterated Canada's position on the killings from a June 10,1999, vote in the House of Commons as "tragic."
Prime Minister Paul Martin denied allegations that his free votes held much weight.
"The Parliament of Canada has essentially expressed the view of parliamentarians as they see them reflected in the country as a whole," Martin told reporters in Ottawa today.
"Obviously Parliament can have views at the same time government has views," he added, saying that was one of the benefits of parliament reform and parliamentary democracy.
Martin was absent for the vote on the motion, which read: "... this House acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against humanity."
About 1.5 million people were killed between 1915-1923, during a campaign to force them out of eastern Turkey.
Turkey's government rejects the label of genocide, saying 2.5 million Muslims were also killed during this period of civil unrest. It estimates 600,000 Armenians were killed.
Canada is among a handful of countries to formally label the killings as genocide. They include Switzerland, France, Argentina, Russia, as well as U.S. state governments. The United Nations have also recognized the genocide.
When French legislators recognized the genocide in 2001, Turkey cancelled millions of dollars worth of defence contracts.
Most Liberal backbenchers voted for the motion Wednesday, while many cabinet ministers were not present.
Martin was accused by the opposition of hypocrisy for promising more free votes but not showing up for this one.
Liberal MP Hedy Fry, who voted for the motion, said it's important to remember the atrocities were carried out by the Ottoman empire, which has since been replaced by the current Turkish state.
"I think we need to recognize the past," she said.
"I think it doesn't mean we've broken ties with the current regime in Turkey. They are our colleagues, they are our NATO allies. They are a moderate, Muslim government and I think we need to work with them."
