Ankara "criticizes" Canada's recognition of Armenian Genocide

PanARMENIAN.Net - Ankara "strongly criticized" Canada on Thursday for referring to the killings of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire as genocide, saying that it was "unacceptable, unfair and incompatible with friendly ties."



Despite the Turkish government's "warning", Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper recognized the killings of Armenians during World War I years as genocide in a declaration he issued on April 24, a day of commemoration for the Armenian Genocide.



"We consider such a reference in the statement by the Canadian Prime Minister to be unacceptable, unfair and incompatible with our friendly ties," said a written statement released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry late on Thursday.



"The ministry warned that Harper's declaration would neither contribute to friendly ties between Turkey and Canada, nor to normalization of ties between the two neighboring countries, Turkey and Armenia.



We believe that Mr. Harper continues to be misled and suggest instead that he encourage competent Canadian historians to study the events of 1915 on a proper basis," it added, Turkish Daily News reports.