(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Qabil Ashirov read more International media outlets report that Canada is going to open
its embassy in Yerevan and prior to this event, the Canadian top
diplomat Mélanie Joly met with Armenian Community in Montreal. At
the meeting, she uttered the names of toponyms such as "artsakh,"
"nagorno Karabakh," and so on which Armenian separatists use
against Azerbaijan. The usage of separatist wording by Melanie Joly
caused protests in Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani communities
throughout the world.
“We resolutely condemn Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly
voicing allegations in reference to the Garabagh region targeting
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan at the
event of the Armenian community. This is not the first time the
Canadian Foreign Minister issued one-sided statements supporting
separatism and revanchist forces in the region, expressing
pro-Armenian sentiments,” Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated.
The Network of Azerbaijani Canadians (NAC) and the Azerbaijani
Canadian Community deplored Mélanie Joly's speech as well. The
communities emphasized that over 40,000 lives were lost in
Armenia's wars of invasion, the ethnic cleansing of 800,000
Azerbaijani civilians from their homes, the destruction of
Azerbaijani cities, and the ongoing landmine catastrophe in
Azerbaijan's Garabagh region.
The wording of the Canadian Foreign Minister raised the question
of whether it was her own initiative or it was the stance of
Canada. Besides, Opening an embassy in Yerevan by Canada also has
not been received unequivocal. Because Armenia is a landlocked and
the poorest country in the region. So, why does a big and wealthy
country like Canada need Armenia?
Azernews learned the opinion of the British
Journalist and lawyer, Neil Watson on the issue. According to
Watson, it was FM's own decision. But, he also noted that Canada is
known for taking a pro-Armenian stance.
“Having seen the video and read around the subject, I am of the
view that the use of separatist terminology and provocative wording
by miss Melanie Joly is her own decision, although Canada itself is
an overwhelmingly pro-Armenian country. We can say that the use of
this wording and these claims are demonstrating to Armenia that it
has a clear ally in North America which, by doing so, is providing
support for the Russian perspective. This could ultimately give
Armenia even more confidence in its attempts to protract the peace
process as infinitum, leading to what Russia and Iran ultimately
desire - a return to no peace and no war,” Neil Watson said.
The British journalist noted that Francophone background is the
main factor in Joly's pro-Armenian stance. Besides, Watson added
that Quebec is the only Francophone state in English-speaking
Canada, and there is a separatist movement that has been very
active for many decades. This factor forces Joly to emphasize the
Armenian separatist movement.
“The answer is to be found in her Francophone background. Mme.
Joly has French as her first language and will have obliviously
absorbed French-language Armenian propaganda, including that
regarding the situation over the Lachin Road. Furthermore, in
Canada, there is an issue between the Francophone community in and
around her home city of Montreal - the largest city in Quebec - and
the English-speaking community. The Québécois feel like a minority
and sense their rights and history are under threat. There is a
separatist movement that has been very active for many decades.
Therefore they naturally empathise with the Armenian separatist
movement,” Watson opined.
As for opening an Embassy in Yerevan, the British Journalist
noted that the initiative is not being driven by economic
concerns.
“The opening of the Embassy is not being driven by economic
concerns. There are nearly 70,000 Armenian Canadians and this
opening is to appease them, attract their votes, and also is due to
the imagined commonality between separatist movements in Canada and
Armenia that I mentioned earlier,” Watson said.