OTTAWA. – The Canadian-Armenians’ annual Armenian Genocide Memorial Day protest in front of the Turkish embassy in Ottawa was met with fifty Canadian-Turkish counter-protesters denying the actuality of the Armenian Genocide. The group quickly turned to singing and jubilant chanting at the face of the Armenians, the Armenian Youth Federation of Canada reports.

Further to this shameful act, the group was clearly attempting to incite a confrontation with their Armenian counterparts to undermine the annual gathering. Repeated name calling and general insults towards the Armenians could be heard from across the barrier. The Armenian group chose to ignore this behavior and kept their focus on the Turkish embassy.

Police officers present were questioned about the Turkish group’s permit to gather and answered that the Turkish group had applied for a barbeque party permit in the park.

Afterwards, the Turkish group was invited into the Turkish embassy by Ambassador Tuncay Babali. To note, the Turkish ambassador recently indicated that Turkey will limit economic developments with Canada unless the government reverses its position on the Armenian Genocide.