June 16, 2004 - 18:01 AMT
TURKISH SPEAKER CALLS ON CANADIAN PARLIAMENT TO RECONSIDER RESOLUTION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
Turkish parliament Speaker Bulent Arinch addressed the Canadian parliament a letter of indignation at the recent resolution by the Canadian House of Commons on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. As reported by Turkish media, the letter says that the Canadian top parliamentarians "should have closely watched the Lower House and impeded the adoption of such a resolution". In his interview to Turkish press Arinch noted that this resolution "will deteriorate the unsettled Armenian-Turkish relations". "Stirring up the dissension between the countries situated in the most sensitive region in the world at present will not be of benefit to anyone. Canada should take it into account and review her erroneous decision", the Turkish Speaker said.