THOUSANDS OF AUSTRALIAN ARMENIANS GATHER FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
armradio.am
16.10.2007 13:55
More than 2000 members of the Armenian-Australian community gathered
in Eastwood Park in the Australian Federal seat of Bennelong to call
upon the Government of Australia to formally and unanimously recognize
and condemn the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian National Committee
of Australia reports.
The Armenian-Australian community was joined by long time supporters;
Senior Cabinet Minister Joe Hockey, Ms Gladys Berejiklian MP, City of
Ryde Mayor Ivan Petch, Deputy Mayor Sarkis Yedelian and Dr Panayiotis
Diamadis, who each reaffirmed their commitment to advocate awareness
of genocide as a measure to prevent the repetition of such crimes
against humanity.
Mayor Petch made an especially powerful statement; declaring: "If the
United States Congress Foreign Relations Committee can recognize it,
if the New South Wales State Parliament can recognize it, if Ryde
Council can recognize it, then the Australian Federal Parliament
should also recognize it."
ANC Australia President Mr. Varant Meguerditchian said: "The event
demonstrated the Armenian-Australian community’s united will in having
Australia join the growing list of nations that have officially come to
recognize the 1915 massacres of the 1.5 million Armenians as genocide."
With an estimated 4000 Armenians residing in the Federal seat of
Bennelong and more throughout the country, Mr. Meguerditchian noted:
"Armenian-Australians would take into consideration the statements
made by politicians and candidates regarding recognition of the
Armenian Genocide when voting at the upcoming federal election."