Tweet
XENOPHON CALLS TO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN, GREEK AND ASSYRIAN GENOCIDES
Greek Reporter
http://au.greekreporter.com/2011/10/18/xenophon-calls-to-officially-recognize-armenian-greek-and-assyrian-genocides/
Oct 18 2011
Greek - Australian Senator Nick Xenophon reaffirmed the historical
reality of the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Genocides, paving the
way for the Upper House to officially recognize these crimes against
humanity.
Speaking in the Senate on October 12 Xenophon declared: "From 1915
to 1923, the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian people were the victims of
one of the first modern genocides. The exact figures are not known,
but it is estimated that over 3.5 million people died as a result of
deliberate, systematic actions by the Ottoman Empire."
According to him, the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian communities in
Australia and around the world deserve to have these past atrocities
acknowledged as what they were: genocide, armenia.com.au website
reported.
The Senator also paid tribute to the Armenian National Committee of
Australia (ANC Australia) and the Australian Hellenic Council (AHC)
for their efforts at raising awareness of the Armenian, Greek and
Assyrian Genocides.
"In the coming months I will be working with the Armenian National
Committee and the Australian Hellenic Council to formulate a motion
to put to the Senate, and I will encourage all of my colleagues to
support it," he added.
Xenophon recalled that Australia had not formally acknowledged this
genocide because of our diplomatic relationship with Turkey.
"If we do not acknowledge this history for fear of offending another
country, where do we draw the line? When is an event or issue serious
enough for us to take the risk? It is time for Australia to choose a
position. Either we acknowledge these genocides, or we refuse to. If
we do not take a stand on this issue, we need to consider what it
says about our country," emphasized the Senator.
Greek Reporter
http://au.greekreporter.com/2011/10/18/xenophon-calls-to-officially-recognize-armenian-greek-and-assyrian-genocides/
Oct 18 2011
Greek - Australian Senator Nick Xenophon reaffirmed the historical
reality of the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Genocides, paving the
way for the Upper House to officially recognize these crimes against
humanity.
Speaking in the Senate on October 12 Xenophon declared: "From 1915
to 1923, the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian people were the victims of
one of the first modern genocides. The exact figures are not known,
but it is estimated that over 3.5 million people died as a result of
deliberate, systematic actions by the Ottoman Empire."
According to him, the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian communities in
Australia and around the world deserve to have these past atrocities
acknowledged as what they were: genocide, armenia.com.au website
reported.
The Senator also paid tribute to the Armenian National Committee of
Australia (ANC Australia) and the Australian Hellenic Council (AHC)
for their efforts at raising awareness of the Armenian, Greek and
Assyrian Genocides.
"In the coming months I will be working with the Armenian National
Committee and the Australian Hellenic Council to formulate a motion
to put to the Senate, and I will encourage all of my colleagues to
support it," he added.
Xenophon recalled that Australia had not formally acknowledged this
genocide because of our diplomatic relationship with Turkey.
"If we do not acknowledge this history for fear of offending another
country, where do we draw the line? When is an event or issue serious
enough for us to take the risk? It is time for Australia to choose a
position. Either we acknowledge these genocides, or we refuse to. If
we do not take a stand on this issue, we need to consider what it
says about our country," emphasized the Senator.