PONTIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION SOURS TURKEY AUSTRALIAN RELATIONS
by Anastasios Papapostolou
Greek Reporter
ntian-genocide-recognition-sours-turkey-australian -relations/
May 22 2009
Australia
The Turkish ambassador to Australia said that relations between
the two countries will be affected following the decision by the
South Australia State Parliament to recognize the Genocide of the
Pontians, Armenians and Assyrians. He also expressed regret at the
decision by South Australian Attorney General, Minister of Justice and
Multicultural Affairs, Michael Atkinson to visit Greece next week and
address an event organized by the Pontians in Thessaloniki. Turkey
launched a formal demarche in Australia after Mr. Atkinson tabled a
motion for the official recognition of the Pontian genocide by the
South Australia State Parliament.
Greeks in Melbourne are staging a protest outside the Turkish consulate
on Sunday to demand the recognition of the genocide of Pontian Greeks
between 1914 and 1922. The protest is part of Pontian Hellenism
memorial events that begin in Melbourne this weekend.