PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: armenian@idx.com.au

29 March 2006

NSW PREMIER WELCOMES ARMENIAN PRIMATE AND FELLOW NSWEC DELEGATES

Sydney, Australia – Today, Premier of NSW, the Hon Morris Iemma MP
welcomed a delegation from the NSW Ecumenical Council that included
His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian (President NSWEC), Revd Dr
Ray Williamson (General Secretary NSWEC), Most Rev Michael Malone
(Roman Catholic Church) and Revd Dr Ann Wansborough (Uniting Church).

The delegates met with the Premier to extend congratulations on his
appointment and to better acquaint the Premier on the function and
role of the NSW Ecumenical Council. During the course of discussions
points concerning the church were raised with particular focus on
harmony in the community.

The NSWEC is comprised of sixteen member churches throughout the
state of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

In the words of General Secretary Revd Dr Ray Williamson, “Being
together ecumenically is an expression of those churches’ commitment
to seek a more complete communion with one another on the journey to
rediscovering the visible unity of the Church. Being together also
enables the churches to express a common voice on issues of concern
in society, and to work together on specific projects which touch
upon both the life of the churches and the needs of people in the
wider community.”

Other than theological reflection in a forum of member churches,
the NSWEC also undertakes a number of local initiatives ranging from
social justice, work in aid and development, and assisting refugees
with settlement.