SYDNEY’S ARMENIAN COMMUNITY COMMEMORATES THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Hagop Tchamkertenian
Armenian Rights Council of Australia
25 Apr 2008
The Sydney Armenian community came together on Sunday 20th of April
2008 for the annual commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. The
annual commemoration is organised by the three traditional Armenian
Political Parties comprising of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party,
the Social Democratic Hunchakian Party and the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation and is supported by Sydney based Armenian religious,
cultural, educational, media, benevolent and sporting organisations.
The key note speaker at this year’s commemoration was New York Times
Bestselling Author, Professor Peter Balakian who joined political
figures, representatives and members of Sydney ‘s Armenian community
in commemorating the 93rd anniversary of the Turkish campaign to
annihilate the Armenian nation.
Represented at the commemoration were the Prime Minister of Australia,
the Honourable Kevin Rudd MP, as well as the Leader of the Federal
Opposition, Dr.Brendan Nelson. Also represented at the commemoration
were the Premier of New South Wales, the Honourable Morris Iemma
and the Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales, Mr. Barry
O’Farrell MP.
Professor Balakian, Rebar Professor of the Humanities at Colgate
University and Raphael Lemkin Prize-winning author of The Burning
Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America ‘s Response (2003)
highlighted the critical role that the Armenian Genocide played as
a precursor for other modern genocides.
The Armenian Genocide was used by infamous 20th century dictators
including Adolf Hitler in planning and justifying the execution of the
European Jews, Gypsies, communists and homosexuals during World War II.
Professor Balakian highlighted the shared history of Armenians and
Australians which was fostered following the arrest of Armenian
community leaders and intellectuals on April 24, 1915 in Istanbul
Turkey , and the Gallipoli landing of the Anzacs on April 25, 1915 .
Balakian’s address stressed the need for worldwide recognition and
condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.
In refuting Turkish claims that the events of 1915 was an example of
the many tragedies that befell the people of the Ottoman Empire due
to the prevailing war time conditions, Professor Balakian was able
to present in a logical and systematic manner the events that prove
that the Armenian Genocide was pre-conceived and highly organised
centrally by the Turkish authorities.
Balakian stressed that besides being the first example of a modern
genocide, what made the Armenian Genocide further unique was the use
of technology by the Turkish authorities.
The telegram was extensively used to issue concise instructions to
all regions of the Ottoman Empire on how to eradicate the Armenians.
And with all able men killed, cargo trains were used to transport
the remaining Armenian population comprising of women, children and
the elderly to established concentration camps in the Syrian Desert .
These concentration camps condemned those that were transported there
to certain death by hunger and disease.
Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Australia and New
Zealand, His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian in his statement
to the attendees said the days of sadness and sorrow have long
past. Instead the Armenian people in both Armenia and the Diaspora
are now in pursuit of justice and accountability.
While welcoming the growing number of countries, states, provinces and
city councils who have officially acknowledged the Armenian Genocide,
Archbishop Aghan Baliozian said what the Armenian people are seeking
is the official acknowledgment of the crimes committed against the
Armenian people by past Turkish authorities.
The Turkish acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide will prove to be
the most meaningful to the Armenian people Archbishop Aghan Baliozian
concluded, drawing a thunderous applause from the attendees.