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)

Posted on: April 15, 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)

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

Aug 27, 2020

The Council of Turkish Canadians (CTC) keeps alive the memory of Col. Attila Altıkat with a special Wreath Laying Ceremony on Thursday, August 27, 2020 at 14:00. 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. This year, as in previous years, CTC remembers Col. Altıkat and all diplomats who have lost their lives in the line of duty to senseless acts of terrorism.  CTC condemns all acts of terrorism in the true message of the Fallen Diplomats Monument as a symbol of peace and justice in our multicultural world. Once again, we ask that Canadian justice be done to bring closure to Col. Altıkat’s case.

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CTC and TCCA Remember All Victims of the Ottoman-Armenian War Tragedy, 1915

Posted on: April 23, 2021

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

Posted on: April 15, 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)

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

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