AUSTRALIAN SENATOR APOLOGIZED FOR DOUBTING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
13.04.2009 19:16 GMT+04:00
Senator Alan Ferguson has apologized for calling the Armenian and
Pontian-Greek Genocides "debatable." In a speech made to the Federal
Parliament’s upper house two weeks ago, Senator Ferguson brought into
question the historical truth of the Armenian and Greek Genocides by
stating they "cannot be accurately depicted" today.
The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) and
leaders of the Greek and Assyrian communities immediately presented
objective academic material regarding the Armenian Genocide and
demanded that Senator Ferguson apologize for casting doubt over the
accuracy of these crimes against humanity, which have been condemned
by the International Association of Genocide Scholars.
Senator Ferguson subsequently reviewed his position and in his letter
of apology, stated that he was "deeply sorry" as his speech was never
intended to cause "distress".
It continued: "I accept the findings of the International League for
the Rights and Liberation of Peoples in relation to the atrocities that
were committed against the Armenians, Assyrians and Pontian Greeks…"
ANC Australia President, Varant Meguerditchian said the community
accepts Senator Ferguson’s apology and looks forward to establishing
a strong working relationship with him.
"We accept the Senator’s remorse as genuine and believe that the
Senator now realizes the great impact this crime against humanity
has played in the lives of so many descendants of the Armenian and
Pontian-Greek Genocides who now consider Australia their home.,"
said Mr. Meguerditchian, ANC Australia reports.