Mr. Speaker, on April 24 Armenian Canadians and Armenians everywhere will commemorate the 84th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian genocide. As an expression of solidarity, I offer my deepest sympathies to the Armenian people and I share their grief.
Far too often in this century, we have witnessed the incredible cruelty that humans can inflict on one another. The Armenian genocide of 1915 at the hands of the Ottoman Turks was the first genocide of the 20th century but certainly and sadly not the last.
Modern Turkey has yet to recognize this serious crime, which has already been recognized by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the European Parliament, and several other countries. Here at home this genocide has been formally recognized by the Quebec National Assembly and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It is far overdue that this Liberal government do the same in the House of Commons.
I urge all hon. members of the House to recognize the Armenian genocide. I extend my most heartfelt wishes to the Armenian people on this tragic anniversary. Let every one of us recognize—