2024-03-07 07:12:11
The Armenian Committee of Canada condemns the recent decision of the Canadian government to cancel the long-standing embargo on the supply of arms to Turkey.
According to the Central Office of the ARF Bureau of Armenian Affairs, this decision has caused alarming concerns in the Canadian Armenian community, as it threatens Canada’s commitment to human rights, international security and justice.
Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada in 2019 After imposing a moratorium on arms sales to Turkey in October, the government in 2020 in the spring allowed the export of L3Harris/WESCAM UAV technology to Turkey. 2020 In September, after Azerbaijan declared war on the Republic of Artsakh, substantial evidence emerged of Turkey’s illegal transit of equipment to Azerbaijan, which violated its treaty obligations with Canada and led to Azerbaijan’s illegal use of Canadian-made WESCAM technology against civilians in Artsakh. As a result of an internal investigation and parliamentary checks, the government canceled all export permits to Turkey in April 2021.
Under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has consistently disregarded human rights, democratic values and the rule of law, and maintains a record of violating treaty agreements. The lifting of the arms embargo not only contradicts Canada’s long-standing principles, but also ignores the ongoing aggression and human rights violations committed by Turkey against various peoples, including the Armenians.
The Armenian Dat Committee strongly calls on the Canadian government to review this reckless decision and adopt a principled position against the Turkish government’s bellicosity. By lifting the arms embargo, Canada is only emboldening President Erdogan’s regime, and even risking complicity in the crimes committed and sponsored by the Turkish regime, which threaten Armenians as well as other peoples in the region. Such a move sends a troubling message to the international community and undermines Canada’s commitment to human rights, peace and justice.
The Canadian government must end hypocrisy and prioritize human rights, international security and justice over short-term political considerations. The Armenian Dat Committee calls on the government to listen to the concerns of the Canadian Armenian community, civil society organizations and human rights defenders.
While we have noted the government’s decision to revoke or suspend arms export permits in the event that credible evidence of Turkish abuses emerges, we call on the Canadian government to rescind this decision altogether and take a firm stand against the Turkish government’s aggression, thereby reaffirming its commitment to the Canadian people. defining principles.