Montreal Gazette, Canada
April 18 2005
Armenians mark painful anniversary
1.5 million victims. Disputed genocide began 90 years ago
DAVE WEATHERALL
The Gazette
For many of the 60,000 Armenians living in Canada, this week means
dredging up painful memories and enduring a familiar response from
the Turkish government – it wasn’t genocide.
Next Sunday marks the 90th anniversary of what Armenians and many
historians agree was the beginning of the genocide during which 1.5
million Armenians were either killed or disappeared.
Turkey continues to deny any role in the alleged genocide that started
in 1915 and continued until about 1922.
For 59-year-old Taro Alepian, president of the Congress of Canadian
Armenians, it’s a frustrating situation he would like to see come to
and end.
“Turkey’s denial of their role in the Armenian genocide is a
negative thing for every Armenian to grow up with,” said Alepian,
as he watched his 5-year-old grandson Marc Dikranian play next to
the monument dedicated to the victims of all genocide in Ahuntsic’s
Marcelin Wilson Park.
“I hope my grandson will not have to grow up with Turkey still denying
what took place 90 years ago.”
Alepian said that after more than three generations of Turkish denial,
Armenians deserve closure.
“Only official recognition by the Turkish government will bring
closure,” said Alepian.
Alepian says he will pray for it Saturday night during the interfaith
service at St. Joseph Oratory to mark the anniversary.
“We owe it to our ancestors, but most importantly, to our future
generations to provide them with an end to this unpleasant story.”
Seventeen countries have passed legislation recognizing the genocide,
including Russia, France, the Netherlands and, recently, Canada. Last
year, the House of Commons passed a non-binding motion denouncing it
as a crime against humanity.
As about 8 million Armenians around the world gather to commemorate
this week, 28-year-old Montreal resident Edward Agopian echoed
Alepian’s desire for the next generation of Armenians not to be
burdened by Turkey’s denial.
“When I have children and they start school, I want them to read
about a genocide that is acknowledged by the country who perpetrated
it, not continually denied,” said Agopian, a member of the Armenian
National Committee of Quebec.
Agopian said he lost three grandparents during the genocide and that
Turkey’s refusal to acknowledge it hurts every Armenian generation.
“You can see it when children talk to their grandparents about it,
there is pain because Turkey has not recognized it,” he said.
“What I need as an Armenian is for the current Turkish government to
acknowledge what the past Turkish government was responsible for,”
he said.
“Not for vengeance, but so that all Armenians can be at peace.”
Agopian said the Canadian government’s recognition is encouraging and
said the ANCQ is planning two events in Ottawa this week as part of
its commemoration activities.
“We will hold a vigil on Saturday at the human rights monument and
on Sunday we will be demonstrating outside the Turkish embassy.”