Turks in Canada ‘celebrate’ Armenian Genocide

 April 25, 2013 - 11:28 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The annual Armenian Genocide Memorial Day protest in front of the Turkish embassy was met with 50 Turkish-Canadian counter-protesters denying the well-established actuality of the Armenian Genocide.
The group quickly turned to singing and jubilant chanting at the face of the Armenians, reported the Armenian Youth Federation of Canada.
Further to this shameful act, the group was clearly attempting to incite a confrontation with their Armenian counterparts to undermine the annual gathering. Repeated name calling and general insults towards the Armenians could be heard from across the barrier. The Armenian group chose to ignore this immature and reprehensible behavior and kept their focus on the Turkish embassy demanding an end to the Turkish government's denial campaign around the world and acknowledge the dark chapter from its past.
The Armenian Genocide is the first modern genocide of the 20th century, during which an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire leadership in an attempt to get rid of its Christian minority. Countless internaional organizations, scholars (such as the International Association of Genocide Scholars) and 22 countries have formally recognized these massacres during World War One as Genocide. The Canadian parliament passed a motion in 2004 acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and condemned these crimes against humanity.
Police officers present were questioned about the Turkish group's permit to gather and answered that the Turkish group had applied for a barbeque party permit in the park.
Afterwards, the Turkish group was invited into the Turkish embassy by ambassador Tuncay Babali. In an attempt to undermine Canada's domestic policies, the ambassador recently held an interview with the Canadian Press indicating that Turkey will limit economic developments with Canada unless the government reverses its position on the Armenian Genocide.