06 05 10 - Turkey recalls envoy to Ottawa, But Egoyan lauds stand on genocide

TORONTO STAR
Turkey recalls envoy to Ottawa
Angered at PM's Armenia remarks

But Egoyan lauds stand on genocide
May 9, 2006. 01:00 AM
GRAHAM FRASER
NATIONAL AFFAIRS WRITER

OTTAWA—Stephen Harper's decision to acknowledge and condemn the Armenian genocide has been criticized by Turkey, which recalled its ambassador to Canada
in protest.

But it was saluted as courageous by Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan.

Egoyan suggested the Conservative government has been able to take a "surgical" decision on the issue because it was not encumbered by the same international relationships as the previous Liberal government, Egoyan told the Toronto Star.

"I think the opening of the Air-India inquiry is also a very courageous decision, to make clear that any crime against humanity will be dealt with, and
not be forgotten," he said. "Strangely, because the new government isn't burdened with allegiances, it's able to move on these matters with a greater
degree of expediency."

On April 19, Harper issued a statement on the day of commemoration of Armenian genocide, extending his greetings to those who mark what he called "this sombre anniversary of the Medz Yeghern," the Armenian term for losses suffered at the hands of the Turks in 1915.

The decision by Harper is the latest in a series of changes in Canadian foreign policy from that of the previous Liberal government, after cutting aid to the
Palestinian Authority, and labelling the Tamil Tigers a terrorist organization.

Egoyan's 2002 film Ararat focuses on the killings that occurred in 1915, events that Turkey has always refused to acknowledge. The film won five Genie awards.

Egoyan, who is of Armenian origin, was responding to the fact that Turkish Ambassador Aydenir Erman is back in Ankara for consultations, as the Turkish
government ponders how to respond to Harper's acknowledgement and condemnation of the Armenian genocide.

"There was a statement by the Prime Minister lending some support to the Armenian claims of genocide," Turkish Embassy counsellor Yonet Tozel told the
Star yesterday. "We are taking all claims of genocide very seriously. The ambassador is in Ankara right now, taking part in meetings."

The Turkish ambassador to France has also been recalled for consultations caused by the debate in the French National Assembly that will make it a crime
to deny the Armenian genocide.

In 2004, the House of Commons passed a motion acknowledging the Armenian genocide and condemning it as a crime against humanity. However, the Liberal
government stressed it was not bound by the vote.

Additional articles by Graham Fraser

V.V