Armenian National Committee of Australia
The Peak Public Affairs Committee of the Armenian-Australian Community
259 Penshurst Street, Willoughby NSW 2068 ~ PO Box 768, Willoughby NSW 2068
Tel: (02) 9419 8264 ~ Fax: (02) 9411 8898
Email: [email protected]
1 September, 2007
PRESS RELEASE
MINISTER JOE HOCKEY REAFFIRMS SUPPORT OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
SYDNEY: Australia’s Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations,
the Honourable Mr. Joe Hockey reaffirmed his commitment to advocate for
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Federal Government of Australia,
during a meeting with the Armenian National Committee of Australia last
week.
Mr. Hockey declared: "My support for Armenian Genocide recognition is
unwavering."
ANC Australia President, Mr. Varant Meguerditchian welcomed the Minister’s
reaffirmation and leadership on this important issue, stating: "Affirmation
of the Armenian Genocide is a fundamental step toward ensuring that similar
crimes are not repeated."
As the Federal Member for North Sydney, Mr. Hockey has been a longstanding
supporter of the Armenian community and Armenian Genocide recognition. His
recent comments follow a 2005 visit to the Republic of Armenia where he laid
a wreath at the ‘Tzitzernagapert’ Genocide Memorial Monument in memory of
the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
Considered to be the first genocide of the twentieth century by historians
and academics, the systematic slaughter of an estimated 1.5 million
Armenians between 1915 and 1923 by the Ottoman Government has been
recognised by prominent legislative bodies; among these are the governments
of Germany, Canada, France, Russia, Argentina, the Netherlands and Belgium.
In 1996, the Parliament of NSW became the first legislative body in
Australia to recognise and condemn the genocide of the Armenians.
[end]
Contact: Haig Kayserian
Communications Officer
P: 0403 317 903
E: [email protected]
The Armenian National Committee of Australia is the peak public affairs body
of the Armenian-Australian community. ANC Australia advances the concerns of
the Armenian-Australian community.
Armenian National Committee of Australia
259 Penshurst Street, Willoughby NSW 2068
PO Box 768, Willoughby NSW 2068
T: (02) 9419 8264 | F: (02) 9411 8898
E: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] | W: <;
The Armenian National Committee of Australia is the peak public affairs body
of the Armenian-Australian community. ANC Australia advances the concerns of
the Armenian-Australian community.