AUSTRALIAN MP RAISES KARABAKH ISSUE IN PARLIAMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 18, 2010 – 11:56 AMT 06:56 GMT

The Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea has spoken in the parliament of
New South Wales State, Australia, about the right to self-determination
of the people of Nagorno Karabakh, ANC Australia reported.

His address followed the Armenian National Committee of Australia’s
poster exhibition in Parliament House last week, which was held days
after the 18th anniversary of the Liberation of Shoushi, a victory
which led Nagorno Karabakh on a path to freedom from a long-oppressive
Azerbaijan.

O’Dea told the Legislative Assembly: "I attended an excellent
exhibition in the Jubilee Room of the New South Wales Parliament on
various aspects of Armenian life, culture and history. There I was
introduced to the long and epic story of Nagorno Karabakh.

"The exhibition coincided with the eighteenth anniversary commemoration
of what is known as the liberation of Shoushi, which came at the end
of a battle that means much to the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh and
around the world, just as Gallipoli does to Australians."

O’Dea added: "Today, mindful of the principles outlined by Woodrow
Wilson, I note my support for self-determination of all peoples,
including Armenians.

"I honor those Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh and others around the
world who, in spite of continued threats and a commitment to fight
for self-determination, ultimately seek peace."

ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian thanked O’Dea
for bringing light to such an important chapter in Armenia’s history.

"It is our responsibility to inform our legislators on what is
important to Armenian-Australians, and Nagorno Karabakh is very
important to Armenians the world over," Meguerditchian said.

"We thank Mr. O’Dea for his address in Parliament and we expect this
will go some way toward achieving formal universal recognition of
the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh."