(No. 247 – August 27, 2011 – 7:35 a.m. ET) Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement on the occasion of the anniversary of the assassination of Colonel Attila Altikat, military attaché at the Embassy of Turkey in Ottawa:
“On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to renew our expression of deep sympathy to the Colonel’s family and friends, as well as to the Government of Turkey and the Turkish people.
“Canada condemns such violence as a means of furthering political objectives.
“On this day, we underline our commitment to working with our Turkish partners to combat terrorism in all its forms.”
The only foreign diplomat to be killed in an act of international terrorism on Canadian soil, Colonel Altikat was assassinated on the morning of August 27, 1982, on his way to work in Ottawa. Canada remains committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
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