CANADA RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Thank you Canada. Now if only the USA could do the same.
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OTTAWA, APRIL 22, ARMENPRESS: With an overwhelmingly favorable vote of 153 to 68 in Parliament Wednesday Canada joined the growing number of nations that have formally recognized the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The motion reads that "That this House acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against humanity.'

Government members were discouraged from voting for the motion, which is sure to anger a Turkish government that has never recognized the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians starting in 1915. Following a charged debate at their weekly closed-door caucus meeting, Liberal backbenchers voted massively in favor while the party's cabinet contingent rejected the Bloc Quebecois motion.

The Turkish government has warned that recognizing the genocide could have economic consequences.
"Armenians in America and throughout the world welcome this historic step by Canada," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "The Canadian Parliament, in rejecting intense Turkish government pressure, took an important step in further isolating Turkey for its shameful, international campaign of genocide denial," he said.

The governing Liberal leadership paved the way for this vote by allowing a "free vote," meaning that individual members are allowed to vote their conscience, without any pressure or negative repercussions from their respective party leaderships.
http://www.armenpress.am/eng/news/polit.htm
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