THE TURKISH COMMUNITY IN CANADA AND THE ARMENIAN QUESTION

The Turkish Community in Canada finds it unfair and hurtful that elected representatives in Canadian House of Commons, and members of three provinces (Ontario, Quebec and BC) accepted motions on the alleged “genocide” of Armenians.

Discussions in these assemblies were based solely on the information and the interpretation provided by the Armenian side on the events of 1915 that took place in Ottoman Turkey.

Such one-sided motions play into the hands of militant individuals which chose to build their identity around hatred and anti-Turkish sentiments. It is tragic that Armenians are raising their youth on a hatred of the Turks. Constructed basis of vengeance and hatred can lead to hate crimes and even terrorism as it did before in Canada. To build such basis, Armenians are abusing the natural sympathy that Canadians rightfully show to any group with painful historical experiences.

Genocide is a very serious accusation. It should not simply be made the subject of popular belief and repeated over and over again so that it eventually becomes the dominant view held by the average Canadian. Half-truths, exaggerations, propaganda, and fabrications do not add up to facts.

Such incriminating distortions of history are contrary to the spirit of multi-cultural coexistence and respect in Canada and hurtful to Turkish Canadians whose ancestry and history are being viciously discredited.

There is no scholarly consensus that warrants the description of genocide for the events of 1915. Because historians do not agree on the events of 1925, Armenians try to get the support of politicians for their version of what happened. It is important for those interested in learning what really happened in 1915 to look at the issue open mindedly, objectively and to make up their minds by themselves.

This can start, in true Canadian fashion, by hearing out, without any prejudice, what Turks have to say about Armenian claims.

Turks are sincere about facing historical facts. In fact, Turkey made a proposal to Armenia in 2005 to set up a joint commission made up of historians and experts from Turkey and Armenia (and others) to embark on a truly academic study in all the archives. Turkey has already opened its archives to international scholars. Archives in Armenia need to be opened up for this. The commission is to investigate all relevant archives around the world and share its findings with the international public. Yet, Armenians are shying away from this. They seem to prefer working through anti-Turkish propaganda instead of facing historical facts.

Canada should not be become a country where only the views of strong and active ethnic lobbies are heard. Turkish Canadians are not as large in number as the Armenians in Canada. But fairness requires Canada to listen to both sides of the dispute and encourage scholarly study of the matter.