TABDC: discussion of Genocide and Karabakh issues make Turkey-Armenia reconciliation possible
The Mosaic Institute invited Kaan Soyak, the Co-chair of the Turkish Armenian Business Development Council (TABDC) to Toronto to address a group of Canadians of Turkish and Armenian origin at a dinner reception on May 22, independent French journalist Jan Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net.
Kaan Soyak and Arsen Ghazarian, the Armenian Co-chair, established the TABDC in 1997, as a think tank NGO aimed to improve relations between Armenia and Turkey.
The mission of the TABDC is to seek normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia by opening the border between the two countries, which has been closed for more than a decade. In addition, the TABDC advocates establishing diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia.
The Embassies of both Turkey and Armenia in Ottawa sent senior representatives to the Toronto meeting convened by the Mosaic Institute. In addition, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada sent a senior diplomat to be present at the Mosaic Institute event.
"There was a wonderful atmosphere of respect and willingness to listen" said Vahan Kololian, Chairman of the Mosaic Institute. "Clearly the TABDC is doing important work in the Caucuses region, and it is important for them to know that many in the Turkish and Armenian Diaspora support their efforts," he said.
Mr. Soyak said, "It is the position of the TABDC that diplomatic relations can be established and borders can be opened, while the Genocide issue and the Nagorno Karabakh problem continue to be studied and discussed."
Kaan Soyak and Arsen Ghazarian, the Armenian Co-chair, established the TABDC in 1997, as a think tank NGO aimed to improve relations between Armenia and Turkey.
The mission of the TABDC is to seek normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia by opening the border between the two countries, which has been closed for more than a decade. In addition, the TABDC advocates establishing diplomatic relations between Turkey and Armenia.
The Embassies of both Turkey and Armenia in Ottawa sent senior representatives to the Toronto meeting convened by the Mosaic Institute. In addition, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada sent a senior diplomat to be present at the Mosaic Institute event.
"There was a wonderful atmosphere of respect and willingness to listen" said Vahan Kololian, Chairman of the Mosaic Institute. "Clearly the TABDC is doing important work in the Caucuses region, and it is important for them to know that many in the Turkish and Armenian Diaspora support their efforts," he said.
Mr. Soyak said, "It is the position of the TABDC that diplomatic relations can be established and borders can be opened, while the Genocide issue and the Nagorno Karabakh problem continue to be studied and discussed."
