RECOGNITION IS A START; BUT THE PM'S OFFICIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HAS ANGERED TURKEY
The Toronto Sun
May 10, 2006 Wednesday
FINAL EDITION
SECTION: EDITORIAL/OPINION; Pg. 20
RECOGNITION IS A START;
BUT THE PM'S OFFICIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HAS ANGERED TURKEY
BY SHEILA COPPS
OTTAWA
A couple of years ago, I hosted a fundraiser in my home for a Liberal MP. At the time, I received a rather nasty note from members of a local Turkish political action committee explaining why they would not attend.
They refused to step foot in my home because, as former heritage minister, I had indirectly funded an Atom Egoyan film entitled Ararat. They went on to outline how this film distorted history by characterizing the loss of 1.5 million Armenian people as genocide.
It did not seem to matter to these activists that as minister, I had absolutely no say as to which film received funding from the government. Telefilm guarded its independence jealously and would never bow to a ministerial intervention for funding.
I wondered whether they had even seen the film. It was a sensitive, modern portrayal through the eyes of a self-described Armenian descendant, which asked questions about the genocide from a Turkish and Armenian perspective.
For Egoyan, of Armenian heritage, the genocide was part of his story and the telling of it was an important personal journey. Notwithstanding his perspective, he made sure the film included a Turkish protagonist who held opposing views.
The film was not objective (most historical accounts never are), and it did not pretend to be. But the fact that a local political committee could refuse an invitation to my home almost 90 years after the incidents shows just how deeply the issue still divides supporters of Armenia and Turkey.
Today, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is feeling the political heat from Turkish anger about his public comments recogizing the genocide. Turkey said in a statement that it "rejects and condemns attempts based on long years of propaganda and political designs to create one-sided versions of history and to have lies be acknowledged as though they were facts." Its governmet has recalled its ambassador to Canada and is threatening economic sanctions.
For years, Canadian parliamentarians have actively worked for recognition of what happened to the Armenians as genocide. The first parliamentary resolution was passed a decade ago, characterizing the deaths as a "tragedy." In 2004, a "genocide" resolution sailed through, despite opposition from Foreign Affairs, which feared reprisals from NATO ally Turkey.
The parliamentary resolution did not convince the government, much to the chagrin of the 75 Liberal members who supported it. Business with Turkey was just too lucrative to risk.
Ankara argues that history has been misinterpreted, that the casualties were simply the normal toll on civilians in a war-torn period for both countries. Others question why a 90-year-old wound matters. But all reconciliation starts with recognition.
Holocaust deniers propagate more holocausts. Unacknowledged genocides promote future acts of genocide.
That is why we should care that Armenia saw 1.5 million people wiped out, spawning a diaspora which started in Canada with a plan to resettle 100 orphans known as the Georgetown Boys. That is why we should care that Hitler wiped out six million Jews and up to 11 million people in the Second World War. That is why we should care that Rwanda lost up to 1 million in the genocide of Tutsis and moderate Hutus. That is why we should also investigate recent published reports from China on organ harvesting and execution of Falun Gong followers.
When genocide is long ago or far away, it is easy to ignore. When trade trumps human rights, it is profitable to gloss over the messy aftermath of genocide. It is a credit to Armenian-Canadians that they have never wavered in their pursuit of genocide recognition. It is a credit to the current government that it finally recognized what Parliament understood years ago.
May 10, 2006 Wednesday
FINAL EDITION
SECTION: EDITORIAL/OPINION; Pg. 20
RECOGNITION IS A START;
BUT THE PM'S OFFICIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HAS ANGERED TURKEY
BY SHEILA COPPS
OTTAWA
A couple of years ago, I hosted a fundraiser in my home for a Liberal MP. At the time, I received a rather nasty note from members of a local Turkish political action committee explaining why they would not attend.
They refused to step foot in my home because, as former heritage minister, I had indirectly funded an Atom Egoyan film entitled Ararat. They went on to outline how this film distorted history by characterizing the loss of 1.5 million Armenian people as genocide.
It did not seem to matter to these activists that as minister, I had absolutely no say as to which film received funding from the government. Telefilm guarded its independence jealously and would never bow to a ministerial intervention for funding.
I wondered whether they had even seen the film. It was a sensitive, modern portrayal through the eyes of a self-described Armenian descendant, which asked questions about the genocide from a Turkish and Armenian perspective.
For Egoyan, of Armenian heritage, the genocide was part of his story and the telling of it was an important personal journey. Notwithstanding his perspective, he made sure the film included a Turkish protagonist who held opposing views.
The film was not objective (most historical accounts never are), and it did not pretend to be. But the fact that a local political committee could refuse an invitation to my home almost 90 years after the incidents shows just how deeply the issue still divides supporters of Armenia and Turkey.
Today, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is feeling the political heat from Turkish anger about his public comments recogizing the genocide. Turkey said in a statement that it "rejects and condemns attempts based on long years of propaganda and political designs to create one-sided versions of history and to have lies be acknowledged as though they were facts." Its governmet has recalled its ambassador to Canada and is threatening economic sanctions.
For years, Canadian parliamentarians have actively worked for recognition of what happened to the Armenians as genocide. The first parliamentary resolution was passed a decade ago, characterizing the deaths as a "tragedy." In 2004, a "genocide" resolution sailed through, despite opposition from Foreign Affairs, which feared reprisals from NATO ally Turkey.
The parliamentary resolution did not convince the government, much to the chagrin of the 75 Liberal members who supported it. Business with Turkey was just too lucrative to risk.
Ankara argues that history has been misinterpreted, that the casualties were simply the normal toll on civilians in a war-torn period for both countries. Others question why a 90-year-old wound matters. But all reconciliation starts with recognition.
Holocaust deniers propagate more holocausts. Unacknowledged genocides promote future acts of genocide.
That is why we should care that Armenia saw 1.5 million people wiped out, spawning a diaspora which started in Canada with a plan to resettle 100 orphans known as the Georgetown Boys. That is why we should care that Hitler wiped out six million Jews and up to 11 million people in the Second World War. That is why we should care that Rwanda lost up to 1 million in the genocide of Tutsis and moderate Hutus. That is why we should also investigate recent published reports from China on organ harvesting and execution of Falun Gong followers.
When genocide is long ago or far away, it is easy to ignore. When trade trumps human rights, it is profitable to gloss over the messy aftermath of genocide. It is a credit to Armenian-Canadians that they have never wavered in their pursuit of genocide recognition. It is a credit to the current government that it finally recognized what Parliament understood years ago.
Canada has thrown itself into the international arena as the protector of the people whose rights have been trampled. I am proud to be Canadian. I hope that equally the Turkish-Canadians can be proud. When it comes to genocide Canada unequivocally said that political expediency can take a back seat. I also thank Sheila Copps for being always the person of conscience and hope that she returns back soon into the political arena. Canada needs you Sheila!
posted by Vahe Balabanian at 5:27 PM
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