PM Stephen Harper condemns foreign representatives' interference in Canadian domestic affairs

During a roundtable discussion with the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC) on June 15 in a response to Horizon Weekly representative, Aris Babikian, the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, reaffirmed that Armenian Genocide recognition by Canada is a government policy and not a “the position of the elected guys” as some civil servants try to present.
 
The Prime Minister emphasized that “Canada’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide was” not an easy one “for the foreign service of Canada” to accept.
 
Prime Minister Harper made it clear that the “ultimate position of the elected government is the position of the Government of Canada.”

Furthermore, in a response to NEPMCC President Tom Saras’ concerns about the interference of foreign government representatives in Canadian domestic issues and pressuring or coercing Canadian citizens and organization to follow certain policies, the Prime Minister condemned such practices and said that he found them “unacceptable” for these diplomats to pursue such blatant interference. He further stated “as the Government of Canada I can not tell you what write in your newspaper and foreign governments can not tell what to write.”

Mr. Saras reference was in regard to a recent attempt by the Turkish Embassy in Canada to silence Mr. Saras after his condemnation of the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. The Turkish Embassy launched a vicious campaign to discredit Mr. Saras and called for his resignation as NEPMCC president.

“We are proud to have such and honourable, moral, and visionary Prime Minister as Mr. Harper. After the Prime Minister’s unambiguous clarifications, we call on our civil servant to follow and implement our executive and legislative government policies vis-a-vis the Armenian Genocide,” stated Jean Mgerditchian, president of the Armenian National Committee of Canada.

Some 45 ethnic and mainstream media representatives attended the roundtable discussion.

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