Canada Has a Balanced Position on the Artsakh Issue: François-Philippe Champagne

Canada's Foreign Minister François-Philippe Champagne has sent a letter to the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) outlining Canada’s position on the Artsakh issue.

“Canada’s position continues to be firmly and steadfastly based on strong support for the OSCE Minsk Group, whose activities are aimed at resolving the conflict through negotiations. Our position does not in any way predetermine the outcome of the process. Canada agrees with the Minsk Group that the conflict cannot have a military solution, and that any settlement must adhere to the principles of the Helsinki Final Act,” stated the Canadian Foreign Minister.

Addressing concerns raised regarding a tweet released by the Canadian Embassy in Turkey about the presidential elections held in Artsakh on March 31, François-Philippe Champagne noted: “I regret the concerns this tweet may have caused within the Armenian National Committee of Canada and the Canadian-Armenian community. I would like to assure you that our position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has not changed.”

It is noteworthy that the embassy in Ankara, which is also accredited in Azerbaijan, mentioned in its post: “Canada supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and does not recognize the so-called ‘elections’ held in Nagorno-Karabakh on March 31, 2020. Such elections undermine efforts, including those of the OSCE Minsk Group, aimed at the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”

In his letter, the Canadian Foreign Minister emphasized that the resolution of the conflict must be based on all international principles, referring to the Helsinki Final Act. Among the principles of the Final Act is also the right to self-determination and equality of peoples.

“We want peaceful societies, and we will support that resolution when it is achieved,” the Canadian Foreign Minister added.

On April 3, representatives of the Armenian National Committee of Canada sent a letter to the Foreign Minister addressing the comments made by Turkey’s embassy in Canada, requesting the removal of the statement and the recall of the Canadian ambassador to Turkey for failing to maintain a balanced foreign policy.

It is also worth mentioning that the aforementioned post was criticized by Alexander Boulerice, a member of the Canada’s New Democratic Party.

Co-chairs of the Armenian National Committee of Canada, Hratch Taraghi and Shahen Mirakyan, expressed satisfaction to the Foreign Minister for maintaining balance in Canada’s position on the Artsakh conflict and for effectively responding to the one-sided statement made by the Canadian embassy in Ankara.