We remain committed to keeping the rights and aspirations of Artsakh’s people alive on the global stage: Interview with Armenian National Committee of Canada executive director Sevag Belian

By Vahakn Karakachian

– The Canadian-Armenian grassroots human rights organization ANCC actively advances the concerns of the Armenian-Canadian community on a broad range of issues. What are the main concerns of the Armenian community in Canada?
– The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) is deeply engaged in advocating for justice, human rights, and the advancement of our community’s political priorities. Our concerns span several interconnected issues emphasizing domestic Armenian-Canadian concerns, responding to immediate humanitarian crises facing Armenians worldwide, and ensuring long-term geopolitical stability for Armenia and Artsakh.

At the forefront is the protection of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and its Armenian population, which has faced systematic aggression and ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan. The September 2023 attacks forced over 120,000 Armenians to flee their ancestral homeland, constituting a clear case of genocide and ethnic cleansing. We have and will continue to invest a great deal of time and resources calling on Canada to continue advocating for the inalienable right of Artsakh’s people to self-determination, safe and dignified return, and security under international law. We call for active Canadian diplomatic leadership to impose targeted sanctions against Azerbaijani officials responsible for these atrocities, as well as stressing the need for Canada to join international efforts to hold Azerbaijan accountable for war crimes, including the unlawful detention of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians.

Another critical concern is the misuse of Canadian military technology. The export of Canadian-made WESCAM targeting systems, diverted through Turkey and used in Azerbaijan’s 2020 attacks on Artsakh, remains a major issue. Despite the initial cancellation of permits, we demand a comprehensive and permanent ban on arms sales to both Turkey and Azerbaijan to ensure that Canada does not become complicit in regional aggression, human rights abuses, or violations of international humanitarian law. This is a moral imperative for Canada.

The preservation of Armenian cultural heritage is another pressing concern. The deliberate destruction and “Albanization” of Armenian sites under Azerbaijani control, including ancient churches and monuments, reflect an attempt to erase the Armenian historical presence in Artsakh. We have urged Canada to leverage its influence in UNESCO and other international bodies to protect this heritage and hold Azerbaijan accountable for cultural genocide.
Economically, we raise ethical concerns about Canada’s reliance on Azerbaijani oil, which supports one of the world’s most oppressive regimes. To align Canadian trade practices with its stated human rights values, we advocate for the cessation of imports from Azerbaijan and a pivot toward domestic and ethically sourced energy. Similarly, we highlight the need for expanded humanitarian aid for displaced Artsakh Armenians and increased funding for initiatives like the Arnold Chan Initiative for Democracy in Armenia.

Strengthening Canada-Armenia relations is another pillar of our advocacy. We have always said that promoting more Canada in Armenia and more Armenia in Canada is an essential part of our job. To this end, we call for robust Canadian support for Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Azerbaijani aggression and sustained efforts to bolster Armenia’s democratic institutions. This includes technical assistance for judicial reforms, anti-corruption measures, and the promotion of human rights, amongst other key issues.

Finally, the Armenian Genocide remains a deeply personal and political concern for every Armenian in Canada and around the world. While we sincerely appreciate Canada’s very clear stance on Armenian Genocide recognition and the importance of combatting denialism, we believe it is time for Canada to outlaw genocide denial as a hate crime and intensify diplomatic pressure on Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide. This acknowledgment, coupled with a call for reparations, is viewed as essential for justice and reconciliation.

Our concerns underscore our unwavering commitment to justice, peace, and preserving our cultural and national identity. They reflect a broader moral and ethical stance, calling on Canada to act decisively to defend human rights and democratic values.

– Strengthening bilateral ties between Yerevan and Ottawa had been a priority for years for the ANCC. October 25, 2023, was a historic day for Canada and Armenia. The Embassy of Canada was inaugurated in Yerevan in the presence of Foreign Minister of Canada, Mélanie Joly. What has the Canadian embassy accomplished during the past year? And What steps have been taken by the Canadian government to address Azerbaijani aggression and threats against the Republic of Armenia?
– The establishment of a Canadian embassy in Yerevan on October 25, 2023, was a landmark achievement, one that the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) had long advocated for, and we were proud to have played an important role in that process. Since its inauguration by Canada’s Foreign Minister the Hon. Mélanie Joly, the embassy has rapidly become a hub for fostering deeper bilateral ties between Canada and Armenia. This diplomatic presence has amplified Canada’s ability to engage with Armenia across various sectors, leveraging the already strong people-to-people connections between the two countries. As a result, we, as Armenian-Canadians, naturally have significant expectations from the embassy.

The embassy has been extremely important in helping Canada better understand Armenia’s unique challenges, particularly in the face of ongoing threats from Azerbaijan. One of its significant accomplishments has been facilitating Canada’s participation in the European Union Monitoring Mission in Armenia—the only non-European nation to do so. This mission monitors the border with Azerbaijan, contributing to stability, promoting confidence-building measures, and supporting Armenia’s territorial integrity. On several occasions, the embassy has emphasized Canada’s strong support for Armenia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, denouncing Azerbaijan’s warmongering. We expect that the embassy will play a constructive in advocating for a sustainable and fair peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan and one that promotes the best interests of Armenia.

Additionally, the embassy has played an important role in supporting local initiatives. The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives—renamed the Arnold Chan Initiative for Democracy in Armenia—called for proposals specifically targeting projects in the Syunik province. Given the constant unfounded Azerbaijani threats, this region is strategically vulnerable. Humanitarian aid has also been provided to displaced Artsakh refugees, though we strongly believe that much more needs to be done to meet the needs of the vulnerable populations.

On the trade front, the embassy has actively promoted increased economic exchange between Armenia and Canada, hoping that this area of cooperation will continue to grow. Considering Canada continues to support Armenian democratic reforms, we have called on the Embassy to maintain vigilance against government actions that could undermine the parliamentary opposition or the broader democratic process.

The ANCC has also cultivated excellent working relations with the current ambassador, His Excellency Andrew Turner, and his team, frequently engaging with them to share concerns and recommendations. The embassy’s proactive approach has laid a solid foundation for further deepening the partnership between Yerevan and Ottawa, and we are hopeful it will continue to play a critical role in strengthening this vital relationship.

– What is the ANCC doing with respect to Artsakh and what efforts is the organization implementing for the right to return of ethnic Armenians from Artsakh to their ancestral homeland?
– Artsakh has been the ANCC’s most urgent and significant policy priority, particularly following the devastating 2020 war and the genocidal ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Azerbaijan in 2023. We have worked tirelessly on multiple fronts to address the profound injustices and ensure that the issue of Artsakh remains central on Canada’s national and international agenda. Despite immense challenges, we remain steadfast in our advocacy for the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh, including their right to self-determination and a safe return to their ancestral homeland.

Our efforts have centred on targeted lobbying, which has successfully mobilized the Canadian government and parliamentary opposition to reaffirm their commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Artsakh issue through the principles of self-determination, among other things. Today, Canada remains one of the only countries worldwide that calls for respecting the people’s right to self-determination. Canada has also consistently emphasized the need for a political solution to the conflict and has publicly urged Azerbaijan to release arbitrarily detained prisoners of war, protect cultural heritage, and address war crimes.

Following the catastrophic attack on Artsakh in September 2023, which led to the forced displacement of its entire Armenian population, the ANCC intensified its advocacy. We have held numerous high-level meetings with Canada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UN delegation, and senior officials to ensure that the plight of Artsakh remains a priority. In November 2023, as a part of our efforts, Canada formally called on Azerbaijan through the UN Human Rights Council to release arbitrarily detained prisoners and uphold international humanitarian law. Furthermore, in a powerful statement marking the first anniversary of the ethnic cleansing in Artsakh, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly reiterated Canada’s support for self-determination, the preservation of cultural heritage, and a just political resolution to the conflict, aligning closely with our objectives.

We have also worked closely with Canada’s Ministry of Heritage and Ambassador to UNESCO to secure international support for protecting Artsakh’s endangered cultural heritage. We have also consistently called for the imposition of sanctions against Azerbaijan and held its leadership accountable for violations of human rights and international law.

Our advocacy extends beyond policy. We have worked diligently to limit Canada’s involvement in Azerbaijan-hosted forums such as the COP29 summit, which has led to significant parliamentary boycotts and diplomatic statements critical of Azerbaijan’s actions. Having said all this, we believe much more must be done to address these issues adequately. We must urge the government to move beyond words and take concrete action against Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani officials, sending a clear message that actions have real consequences. Much work still lies ahead of us.

Through these comprehensive efforts, we remain committed to keeping the rights and aspirations of Artsakh’s people alive on the global stage and ensuring their safe return to their homeland remains a tangible goal for the international community.

– What about the Turkish and Azeri lobbies? Are they active in Canada?
– Over the past several years, the Turkish and Azerbaijani lobbies have significantly increased their efforts, attempting to replicate our advocacy strategies to undermine the just advocacy of the Armenian-Canadian community. They employ vast resources to spread misinformation amongst Canadian officials and the Canadian public.

Despite their expanding efforts, neither the Turkish nor Azerbaijani lobbies have been overly successful in altering Canada’s overall pro-Armenian stance on several key issues. Both the Canadian government and parliamentary opposition have maintained their positions on critical issues such as Armenia’s sovereignty, Artsakh’s rights, and accountability for human rights violations by Azerbaijan and Turkey.

That said, there have been setbacks which we have been very vocal in denouncing. For instance, despite Canada’s cancellation of arms sales to Turkey in 2021, recent geopolitical developments led to the lifting of this ban in February 2024, reportedly under pressure from Turkey and other NATO allies. In response, the ANCC actively protested through public statements, media engagements, and direct advocacy with members of Parliament, securing a provision in Canada’s policy reserving the right to suspend exports if Turkey misuses Canadian technology. There are other examples as well, which we continue to address to ensure that we adequately expose Turkish-Azerbaijani lies.

Ultimately, while the Turkish and Azerbaijani lobbies show signs of increased activism, their influence and reach still do not compare to the impact of the Armenian advocacy movement in Canada. Thanks to our sustained efforts and constant grassroots support, key issues such as Artsakh’s self-determination and protecting Armenia’s sovereignty remain front and center on Canada’s political agenda.