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CTC deplores Lies about Pontus Genocide
Posted on: May 19, 2021
There was no Pontus genocide. Claims by ethnic parliamentarians in Ottawa are malicious distortions of Turkish modern history. Recently, the Senate debated and rejected a private Members Motion on this subject. Now, apparently, a new effort is being launched to mislead public opinion and Canadians unaware of historical facts.
The Council of Turkish Canadians (CTC) deplores these ill-conceived, cheap political schemes intended to malign Turks, including Turkish Canadians and damage Canada-Turkey relations.
In summary, the relevant history is as follows. (CTC is ready to furnish details to interested members of the news media or parliamentarians).
1) in September 1919, Greece invaded Anatolia to Hellenize the region in pursuit of Greater Greece.
2) The invading army was totally defeated by the Turkish National Army led by the future Ataturk, the founder of Modern Turkish Republic. In fact, today, 19 May, is the 99th Anniversary of the Turkish victory.
3) During the 4-year Greek invasion of the Turkish homeland, Greeks carried out war crimes (mass killings, burning towns and cities), documented by Allies themselves in various Commissions, as well as by famed historian Arnold Toynbee, an eyewitness reporter of the Manchester Guardian.
4) Pontian Greeks, in the Black Sea region, were forced by Greek authorities and especially the Greek Orthodox Church, to join the invaders.
5) After the Greek defeat, there was a Population Exchange proposed by the Greek leader Venizelos, and millions of Persons, including Pontians, were relocated as part of the Peace Treaty at Lausanne.
6) This is what the ethnic parliamentarians are claiming their “genocide,”
7) Canada, as member of the British Empire is a signatory to the Treaty of Lausanne 1922.
The Council of Turkish Canadians (CTC)
CTC and TCCA Remember All Victims of the Ottoman-Armenian War Tragedy, 1915
Posted on: April 23, 2021
CTC and TCCA remember in sadness, once again, the victims of the Ottoman-Armenian conflict during the First World War. As Canadians we stand, always, for historical truth and ultimately ethnic reconciliation within the cherished Canadian multiculturalism.
As a dreaded manifestation of any war, the Ottoman-Armenian conflict was a tragedy. It erupted when Armenian nationalists, while Ottoman subjects with a “favoured people” status and treated as such for over 300 years, staged a premeditated revolt against the Ottoman State, siding with the invading Russian Empire armies in Eastern Anatolia. This was high treason. Acting in self-defence and for protection of all its citizens/subjects, the Ottoman administration relocated Armenians from the war zone. Tragically, the relocation led to large-scale loss of life. Combatants and civilians, Turks, Kurds, and Armenians, became victims of famine, disease, banditry and general breakdown of law and order when the Empire was nearing dissolution. Massacres and counter-massacres unfolded in a general atmosphere of lawlessness.
More Turks perished than Armenians; these losses were huge. We acknowledge the loss and suffering on both sides. It would be unjust to rank ethnic suffering and loss of one side over the other. Moreover, in no way, does this tragedy fall under the UN Genocide Convention of 1948. This historical fact has been confirmed in two recent and separate judicial decisions at the European Court of Human Rights as well as the French Constitutional Council.
It is our belief that, as Canadians, we need to go beyond ethnic politics and leave History to historians. We stand for honest and open dialogue between Canadians of Turkish and Armenian origin. As well, we call on Canada to be even-handed and encourage Turkey and Armenia to move forward in line with spirit of the Zurich Protocols of 2009 which includes establishment of an independent commission of historians and experts to study events of 1915.
The Council of Turkish Canadians (CTC)
Turkish Canadian Cultural Association (TCCA)
CTC disagrees with restrictions on high-tech exports to Turkey
Posted on: April 16, 2021
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
The Council of Turkish Canadians (CTC) condemns Global Affairs decision to cancel permits for export of hi-tech military equipment to Turkey. This is a biased decision and reflects the Canadian Armenians’ disproportionate influence on Canadian foreign policy. No ethnic group should be allowed to determine Canada’s foreign policy.
It is fact that Turkey sided with Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabagh was last Fall. This was in line with international law. Armenians were the aggressor in this long-standing conflict. CTC believe it is unjustified for Canada to reward aggression and to go against international law.
No less than four UNSC Resolutions have called on Armenian occupation forces to withdraw from almost a third of Azerbaijan territory taken over since early 1990s, causing more than a million Azerbaijan refugees in their own homeland.
Furthermore, singling out Turkey, a NATO ally, is unfair. Israel, alongside Turkey, also supported Azerbaijan, providing Azerbaijan forces with drone technology. Moreover, Canada has continued with military exports to Saudi Arabia.
As regards the facts of Turkish drones, these are driven by domestic technology. Indeed, Turkish drones are now exported to Ukraine in the latest conflict with Russia. Turkey, as a NATO country, is doing the right thing, in Azerbaijan and Ukraine. We expect the same thing from our own Government.
Accordingly, CTC request a reconsideration of this negative decision and immediate restoration of friendly cooperation with the Turkish government.
Yours sincerely,
Zahide Sezerman
President, Council of Turkish-Canadians (CTC)
Fact-checking: Disinformation campaign on Nagorno-Karabakh
Posted on: October 16, 2020
Dear Prime Minister,
I feel compelled to write to you to counter the misleading letter sent to you recently by the Armenian diaspora organizations in Canada regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Normally, our Council stays outside politics, but the misinformation in this letter must not go unanswered.
The truth, in summary, is as follows:
1) Armenia is the aggressor in this conflict, an aggression that began when the Soviet Union dissolved. Armenia attacked an unprepared Azerbaijan.
2) For almost 30 years now, Armenian forces have occupied 21% of Azerbaijan territory.
3) International Law, four UNSC Resolutions, support Azerbaijan and call for immediate and total Armenian withdrawal from Azerbaijan. The Trio of the Minsk Group, intended to secure implementation of international law, has failed to achieve any result owing to Armenian refusal. That failure, of course, does not change international law. We believe Canada should add its voice in support of international law.
4) Armenian occupation has created more than 1 million Azerbaijan refugees. This is a huge humanitarian burden on Azerbaijan, a gross violation of human rights which Canada must uphold.
5) Turkey is not involved in this fighting, but fully supports the just Azerbaijan cause. Turkey stands for international law and fairness. Canada should do so as well.
For all these reasons, I trust you and your Government will pay no heed to the demands by the Armenian diaspora organizations in Canada. Indeed, we hope, and kindly request, that you will join Turkey, a NATO ally with Canada, to secure a lasting peace in the Caucasus in accordance with international law. That, I believe, is in keeping with Canada’s role in international affairs in defence of human rights and justice.
Yours sincerely,
Zahide Sezerman
President, Council of Turkish-Canadians (CTC)
CTC appeals Canadian government to maintain neutrality in Caucasus conflict
Posted on: October 7, 2020
It’s been a known fact that United Nations Security Council released four separate resolutions asking Armenia to withdraw its occupying forces from neighboring Azerbaijan’s territory called Nagorno-Karabakh. This situation has been ongoing since 1992 forcibly making over a million Azerbaijani citizens refugees in their own homeland and Armenian expansionism has been threatening the stability in the Caucuses for over 30 years.
Ignoring these facts, Canadian Armenian organizations have recently added insult to injury asking the Canadian government to condemn Turkey. This is despite another fact that while supporting Azerbaijan, Turkey is not a party in the current fighting.
Council of Turkish Canadian (CTC) wishes to recommend that our Government and parliamentarians should ignore these provocative requests. The relevant background facts are as summarized below.
1. Armenia is a member of Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization while Turkey is a fellow ally in NATO since 1952.
2. NATO remains the cornerstone of Canadian defence and security. Armenian diaspora organizations in Canada are ignoring this simple fact in pursuit of narrowly-defined ethnic interests over Canadian national interests.
3. By undertaking an anti-Turkey misinformation campaign and pursuing ethnic lobbying, Armenian diaspora organizations are undermining NATO solidarity and cohesion and therefore harm Canadian national interest.
4. Armenian occupation, specifically the large-scale forced displacement of people, has created a huge humanitarian burden on Azerbaijan.
5. Furthermore, Armenia is in violation of international law with its continuing occupation of Azerbaijani territory. Hence, Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan is based on this fact since the start of this conflict.
6. As Turkish Canadians CTC always stands for peace and justice. Therefore we expect our parliamentarians should also support UN resolutions and require for immediate removal of occupying Armenian forces from the region.
As CTC, we appeal to our Government (i) to remain steadfast in its NATO obligations and (ii) ignore cheap political games of the Canadian Armenian diaspora organizations.
About the Council of Turkish Canadians
The CTC is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to advocate and promote the rights of Canadians of Turkish origin as equal and proud citizens of Canada.
Contact:
Ozay Mehmet, Ph.D (Toronto), 613-260-5733
Lead Scholar, Centre in Modern Turkish Studies,
Distinguished Research Professor, International Affairs (Emeritus),
Carleton University, Ottawa, Ont., CANADA
CTC@turkishcanadians.com
CTC remembers slain Diplomat Col. Attila Altıkat
Posted on: August 24, 2020
The Council of Turkish Canadians (CTC) keeps alive the memory of Col. Attila Altıkat with a special Wreath Laying Ceremony on 38th anniversary of his assassination and commemorates all public servants and diplomats who lost their lives in line of duty.
The Special Service will be held in front of the Fallen Diplomats Monument at the Corner of Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway and Island Park Drive. Due to the COVID-19 conditions, no speeches will be presented at this year’s Commemoration.
This date marks the 38th anniversary of the heinous killing of Turkish diplomat Atilla Altıkat by Armenian terrorists at this corner. Altıkat is the first fallen diplomat in Canada. Colonel Altıkat was the very first victim of international terrorism on Canadian soil. The Turkish community in Canada calls on all relevant agencies and political leaders to stand firmly against extremism and work to bring due closure to this case.
On the morning of August 27, 1982, while driving to work, Colonel Altıkat, father of two, young husband and son of both living parents, was shot 10 times at point blank range. An Armenian terrorist organization claimed the responsibility for his assassination. In spite of some leads by journalists and others, no arrests have been made to date and the murderers remain at large.
Between 1973 and 1986, Armenian terrorist attacks took 70 innocent lives around the world, 31 of whom were Turkish diplomats, and wounded 524 innocent bystanders. A Canadian security officer, Claude Brunelle was also killed when three heavily armed Armenian terrorists stormed the Turkish Embassy in Ottawa in 1985. The Turkish Ambassador at the time was injured and had to be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. It appears that the Armenian terrorists have done all these in an attempt to impress upon the world their version of the history and to achieve self-defined nationalistic goals. Strangely enough this attach was justified for the Armenian communities in Canada.
The Turkish community of Canada would like to reiterate its profound disappointment regarding the lack of progress in finding the killers of Colonel Altıkat. We appeal to our officials, particularly the RCMP, to heighten their efforts to shed light on this political homicide.
Turkish-Canadians gather to commemorate all public servants and diplomats slayed in service and to remember Colonel Atilla Altıkat on 37th anniversary of his assassination
Posted on: September 23, 2019
On August 27, Canadians of Turkish origin, friends of the community, members of the Parliament, government officials and Canadians who reject terrorism will once again gather to commemorate all public servants and diplomats slayed in service and to remember Colonel Atilla Altıkat, the Turkish military attaché who was gunned down in Ottawa thirty-seven years ago. Colonel Altıkat was the very first victim of international terrorism on Canadian soil. The Turkish community in Canada calls on all relevant agencies and political leaders to stand firmly against extremism and work to bring due closure to this case.
On the morning of August 27, 1982, while driving to work, Colonel Altıkat, father of two, young husband and son of both living parents, was shot 10 times at point blank range. An Armenian terrorist organization claimed the responsibility for his assassination. In spite of some leads by journalists and others, no arrests have been made to date and the murderers remain at large.
Between 1973 and 1986, Armenian terrorist attacks took 70 innocent lives around the world, 31 of whom were Turkish diplomats, and wounded 524 innocent bystanders. A Canadian security officer, Claude Brunelle was also killed when three heavily armed Armenian terrorists stormed the Turkish Embassy in Ottawa in 1985. The Turkish Ambassador at the time was injured and had to be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. It appears that the Armenian terrorists have done all these in an attempt to impress upon the world their version of the history and to achieve self-defined nationalistic goals. Strangely enough this attach was justified for the Armenian communities in Canada.
The Turkish community of Canada would like to reiterate its profound disappointment regarding the lack of progress in finding the killers of Colonel Altıkat. We appeal to our officials, particularly the RCMP, to heighten their efforts to shed light on this political homicide.
CTC Remembers All Victims of the Ottoman-Armenian Conflict
Posted on: September 23, 2019
April 24, 2019 – This year once again we remember with sadness and respect the memory of the victims of the Ottoman-Armenian conflict during the First World War. As Canadians we stand for truth and reconciliation.
The conflict began when Armenian nationalist groups revolted against the Ottoman Empire, while collaborating with the invading Russian armies in Eastern Anatolia. Committing this act of high treason resulted in the relocation of Armenians from the war zone. This relocation was a military measure in self-defence. Most of the deaths during the relocation resulted from famine, the spread of diseases, sporadic fighting, and a breakdown of authority in poor war conditions. Under these terrible conditions, with the ongoing world war, bandits and private groups had plenty of opportunities to commit massacres. It was the same time and geography where many Armenians and Turks lost their lives.
The sufferings on both sides were enormous, hence labelling it as a one-sided genocide means ignoring the lost lives of all other human beings. After all, the word genocide must be used as a clearly defined crime under the UN Genocide Convention of 1948 and a binding international law. Adopting this term without the due legal process lacks any legitimacy and can only be defined as a defamation of a nation that also suffered during that. In fact, Armenian allegations have been rejected by the European Court of Human Rights and the French Constitutional Council, where the latter also reaffirmed that crimes against humanity or genocide must be established by competent courts but not by the Legislature.
We need to go beyond the politics of the tragic past and establish a factual account of history. This can only be accomplished through an honest and open dialogue between Turks and Armenians. Canada can play an important role on this reconciliation process by being objective and fair in their approach to the issue, while encouraging Turkey and Armenia to move forward the mutually adopted but subsequently suspended Zurich Protocols which include the study of these events by independent commission of historians and experts. In the meantime, our Government can also adopt a constructive role by encouraging the Armenian-Canadian communities to discuss the issue together with the Turkish-Canadian communities.
We invite the Armenian-Canadians to reconciliation, joint healing and acknowledging loss of lives from both sides together. We believe this is the best way to remember the victims of the Ottoman-Armenian conflict.