Armenian Youth Federation of Australia
PO Box 238, Willoughby NSW 2068
ayfaustralia@namag.com
02 9975 4487

PRESS RELEASE

12th May 05

450 walk for Armenian Genocide Recognition

SYDNEY – The Armenian Youth Federation of Australia (AYF) led the
Armenian community of Sydney in a ’90th Anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide Candlelight Recognition Walk’ through the City’s central
business district on Thursday April 28 2005.

450 friends of the Armenian community of Australia accepted the
invitation to walk through the City, candles in hand to commemorate
the tragic and unrecognised Genocide of the Armenian people at the
hands of the Ottoman Turks in 1915.

The members of the AYF and the Homenetmen Antranig Scouts, along with
the students of Hamazkaine Arshak and Sophie Galstaun School led the
general public, which included many descendants of the 1.5 million
civilians slaughtered by the Turkish government.

“This should serve as a message for the Turkish government of today,”
said the chairperson of the AYF Mr Kevork Tufenkjian.

“90 years on, in faraway Australia, 450 members of the same Armenian
community that the Turks tried to wipe out have again joined hands in
recognition, commemoration and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.”

“We challenge the Turkish government of today to face up to their
predecessors’ misdemeanours and admit what history books prove beyond
doubt * that they attempted the systematic elimination of an entire
people by leading them on a death march and taking nine-tenths of
their land.”

“We are here in a cry for justice,” he added beside a giant poster
announcing ‘Armenian Genocide * 90 years of Turkish Denial’.

“We, the youth, will not rest until justice is served and our
forefathers’ spirits can rest in peace.”

The ’90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Candlelight Recognition
Walk’ was part of a series of commemoration ceremonies conducted by
the Armenian community in Sydney.

The walk, which began at Hyde Park and went through Elizabeth Street,
Martin Place and Macquarie Street, culminated in a wreath laying
ceremony at the Armenian Genocide memorial monument at the NSW State
Parliament House.

*END*
Contact: AYF Public Affairs Committee * 0409 572 958

Haig Kayserian
haig.kayserian@sbs.com.au
0403-317-903
SBS Sportswriter