YEREVAN. – Canada was one of the first countries to recognize the Armenian Genocide. What was the reason for this recognition? In response to this question by Aravot daily, Canada’s Ambassador to Armenia, John C. Sloan—whose diplomatic residence is in Moscow—, responded as follows:

“This was a step by the legislative body of Canada. I believe different parliaments had different objectives for this.”     

‘“Mr. Ambassador, considering the fact that Canada was one of the first to recognize the Genocide, do you consider it a likely option that Canada could review its approach in the Nagorno-Karabakh [NK] issue and take a tougher stance here, as well?   

In the settlement of the NK issue Canada assists the process that is continuing within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. Canada will continue to assist so that a long-term agreement is signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan. I do not think that Canada will take any initiative beyond the OSCE mandate.’

Reflecting on the extradition [to] and glorification [in Azerbaijan] of [Ramil] Safarov [the Azerbaijani army officer who had killed with an axe Armenian soldier Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest back in 2004 and who was released in Azerbaijan last year, following his extradition to that country from Hungary], the [Canadian] ambassador noted that this step by Azerbaijan does not contribute to the process of confidence-building.         

The ambassador also responded to the query on making investments in Armenia, [and] noted that Canadian investors are more interested in an institutional system that operates transparently. ‘They want to see institutional structures, a customs and a tax system that operate firmly,’” Aravot daily writes.