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AUSTRALIAN SENATOR APOLOGIZES TO ARMENIANS FOR QUESTIONING GENOCIDE
www.asbarez.com/index.html?showarticle=4 1306_4/10/2009_1
Thursday, April 9, 2009
ADELAIDE, Australia--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.
www.asbarez.com/index.html?showarticle=4 1306_4/10/2009_1
Thursday, April 9, 2009
ADELAIDE, Australia--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.