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AUSTRALIAN MP URGES TURKEY TO RECOGNIZE THE CRIMES OF GENOCIDE
13:40 21.06.2013
Armenian Genocide, Australia, Turkey
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, Rev. Fred Nile
delivered a solemn tribute to Australian ANZAC soldiers who witnessed
and provided relief efforts during the genocides of the Armenian,
Greek and Assyrian population of the Ottoman Empire, the Armenian
National Committee of America reports.
Nile's message comes in light of recent accusations by Turkey's
Ambassador to Australia that these recorded accounts by ANZAC soldiers
were somehow false, and it also comes at a time when Turkey's Foreign
Ministry has threatened to ban those Australian politicians, who
supported recent motions to recognise these genocides, from attending
Gallipoli commemorations of ANZAC Day in 2015.
Nile said: "As we head into the centenary year of the landings at
Anzac Cove, it is not an act of friendship to declare that Australian
parliamentarians who support motions recognising aspects of Australian
history are not welcome at the commemorations at Gallipoli in 2015."
Shortly after the Gallipoli campaign, Australian soldiers came into
contact with the genocides of the Armenian, Greeks and Assyrians. Over
300 ANZACs were held as prisoners of war (POWs) by the Ottoman forces.
These ANZACs recorded their experiences in detailed diaries and
memoirs with vivid accounts of the genocide. Many of these accounts
are now stored in the archives of the Australian War Memorial.
In his speech on the floor of the Legislative Council, Nile called
upon Turkey to have respect for Australian history and to recognise
the crime of genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire.
Nile said: "Modern Turkey and modern Australia must have a friendship
that is based on mutual respect and understanding of historical
differences. Turkey and Australia have overcome the legacy of the
battles on Gallipoli, so we must overcome whatever difference of
opinion we have about recent motions recognising the Assyrian and
Hellenic genocides and reaffirming the Armenian genocide."
ANC Australia Executive Director, Vache Kahramanian welcomed Nile's
statement paying tribute to the ANZACs and confirming the authenticity
of their records.
Kahramanian said: "The history of the Armenian genocide is intertwined
in the fabric of Australian history. Many brave Australian soldiers
risked their lives to provide aid and assistance to survivors of the
Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Genocides."
"This history is clearly recorded in the archives of the Australian
War Memorial and is a proud testament to Australia's humanitarian
assistance abroad. Denying the historical reality of the Armenian
genocide also denies our proud Australian history, which should never
occur," Kahramanian added.
The NSW Parliament passed two unanimous motions in May of this year
recognising the Assyrian and Greek genocides while reaffirming its 1997
motion recognising the Armenian genocide. The motion paid tribute to
Australian ANZACs as well as Australia's proud humanitarian assistance
to victims and survivors of this genocide.
In response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry released a statement stating
that those who were responsible for this motion will "doubtlessly
be deprived of the hospitality and friendship" normally extended
to Australians.
More specifically, the official statement says: "These persons who
try to damage the spirit of Canakkale/Gallipoli will also not have
their place in the Canakkale ceremonies where we commemorate together
our sons lying side by side in our soil."
The full text of Rev. Nile's speech can be read below:
"I speak about the Hellenic Pontian Genocide Commemoration, which
was commemorated tonight in New South Wales Parliament House, and
relate that commemoration to other aspects of the Anzac service. I was
pleased to be a guest at this annual event tonight, along with other
members of the New South Wales Parliament. I was particularly pleased
to receive a plaque and historical portrait for my efforts in moving
the motion in this House some weeks ago. Plaques and a portrait were
also presented to the Premier, the Hon. Barry O'Farrell, for his action
in moving a similar motion in the other place. Those items were handed
to the Hon. David Clarke, who was representing the Premier. The event
held tonight was organised in collaboration with all the different
Pontian organisations-the United Pontian Association of NSW, the
Pontian Association of Wollongong "Diogenes", with representatives
from Victoria, and from Melbourne in particular.
Along with colleagues from all parties and both Chambers of this
Parliament, we commemorated the tragic loss of almost three million
Hellenes, people of Greek background, Armenians and Assyrians at
the hands of the Ottoman government, across the Middle East. The
connection of the Anzacs to the genocides of the indigenous Armenian,
Assyrian and Hellenic populations of Anatolia has recently returned
to the mainstream of Australian history.
This has been triggered by the pending anniversaries of the outbreak
of World War I, the commencement of the genocides of the Armenians,
Assyrians and Hellenes, and the landings on the Gallipoli peninsula.
These three anniversaries fall within a few months of each other
and mark events that left an indelible imprint on the Anzacs and on
Australian society as a whole.
The Anzacs were formed at the eruption of the war. A few months later
they were serving on the front lines, where they came into contact
with the genocides of the Armenians, Assyrians and Hellenes.
Approximately 300 Anzacs were captured by the Turkish armies on the
various fronts of Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine and Mesopotamia. Almost
one-third of them died in captivity. Many Anzac prisoners of war
recorded their experiences in secret diaries or post-war reports. The
original documents are now housed at the Australian War Memorial in
Canberra. Gallipoli prisoner Private Daniel Bartholomew Creedon of
the 9th Battalion recorded in his diary on 2 February 1916 that the
people in Ankara, where he was being held, said that the Turks killed
1¼ million Armenians. HMAS AE2 crew member John Harrison Wheat wrote
in his diary on 18 August 1915:
All the Armenians are driven from [Afyonkarahissar]. The principal
cause of this is the Armenians are Christians and all the business
of the town is carried on by them. There is a very strong feeling
against the Christians in this Country. At this time, thousands of
Armenians were turned out of these big towns to starve and thousands
were massacred.
The circumstances of the war also made Anzacs the rescuers of genocide
survivors. Imperial Camel Corps Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Mills wrote
in his diary how in 1917 his men collected Armenian survivors in their
drive up the Jordan River Valley. Mills carried a one-year-old girl
asleep in his arms on his camel. The largest operation occurred in the
northern summer of 1918. Nine Australian and New Zealand servicemen,
led by Captain Stanley Savige, decided to protect a ragged column of
80,000 Assyrian genocide survivors. These Anzacs were all that stood
between the survivors and annihilation during their 1,000 kilometre
trek from Iran's Urmia region to the plains near Baghdad, Iraq.
However, only 40,000 reached safety in spite of the protection by that
small band of nine Anzac soldiers. They carried with them a collection
of diaries, photographs and films recorded by the Dunsterforce men.
Anzacs who experienced the genocides later joined the international
rescue mission led by the Near East Relief Organisation. Men such as
AFC Captain Thomas Walter White donated time and money to rescue those
who had lost everything. When the fighting was over, they served Cleo,
the muse of history, by documenting their experiences. In the midst of
such inhumanity, the Anzacs did not forget their duty as human beings
and are now regaining their rightful place in Anzac history. As we
head into the centenary year of the landings at Anzac Cove, it is not
an act of friendship to declare that Australian parliamentarians who
support motions recognising aspects of Australian history are not
welcome at the commemorations at Gallipoli in 2015.
Modern Turkey and modern Australia must have a friendship that is
based on mutual respect and understanding of historical differences.
Turkey and Australia have overcome the legacy of the battles on
Gallipoli, so we must overcome whatever difference of opinion we have
about recent motions recognising the Assyrian and Hellenic genocides
and reaffirming the Armenian genocide. We all need to learn from
genocides and other episodes of persecution in order to prevent from
them happening again. In Syria, Iraq, Egypt and many other lands,
Christians continue to suffer. Lest we forget.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/06/21/australian-mp-urges-turkey-to-recognize-the-crimes-of-genocide/
From: Baghdasarian
13:40 21.06.2013
Armenian Genocide, Australia, Turkey
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, Rev. Fred Nile
delivered a solemn tribute to Australian ANZAC soldiers who witnessed
and provided relief efforts during the genocides of the Armenian,
Greek and Assyrian population of the Ottoman Empire, the Armenian
National Committee of America reports.
Nile's message comes in light of recent accusations by Turkey's
Ambassador to Australia that these recorded accounts by ANZAC soldiers
were somehow false, and it also comes at a time when Turkey's Foreign
Ministry has threatened to ban those Australian politicians, who
supported recent motions to recognise these genocides, from attending
Gallipoli commemorations of ANZAC Day in 2015.
Nile said: "As we head into the centenary year of the landings at
Anzac Cove, it is not an act of friendship to declare that Australian
parliamentarians who support motions recognising aspects of Australian
history are not welcome at the commemorations at Gallipoli in 2015."
Shortly after the Gallipoli campaign, Australian soldiers came into
contact with the genocides of the Armenian, Greeks and Assyrians. Over
300 ANZACs were held as prisoners of war (POWs) by the Ottoman forces.
These ANZACs recorded their experiences in detailed diaries and
memoirs with vivid accounts of the genocide. Many of these accounts
are now stored in the archives of the Australian War Memorial.
In his speech on the floor of the Legislative Council, Nile called
upon Turkey to have respect for Australian history and to recognise
the crime of genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire.
Nile said: "Modern Turkey and modern Australia must have a friendship
that is based on mutual respect and understanding of historical
differences. Turkey and Australia have overcome the legacy of the
battles on Gallipoli, so we must overcome whatever difference of
opinion we have about recent motions recognising the Assyrian and
Hellenic genocides and reaffirming the Armenian genocide."
ANC Australia Executive Director, Vache Kahramanian welcomed Nile's
statement paying tribute to the ANZACs and confirming the authenticity
of their records.
Kahramanian said: "The history of the Armenian genocide is intertwined
in the fabric of Australian history. Many brave Australian soldiers
risked their lives to provide aid and assistance to survivors of the
Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Genocides."
"This history is clearly recorded in the archives of the Australian
War Memorial and is a proud testament to Australia's humanitarian
assistance abroad. Denying the historical reality of the Armenian
genocide also denies our proud Australian history, which should never
occur," Kahramanian added.
The NSW Parliament passed two unanimous motions in May of this year
recognising the Assyrian and Greek genocides while reaffirming its 1997
motion recognising the Armenian genocide. The motion paid tribute to
Australian ANZACs as well as Australia's proud humanitarian assistance
to victims and survivors of this genocide.
In response, the Turkish Foreign Ministry released a statement stating
that those who were responsible for this motion will "doubtlessly
be deprived of the hospitality and friendship" normally extended
to Australians.
More specifically, the official statement says: "These persons who
try to damage the spirit of Canakkale/Gallipoli will also not have
their place in the Canakkale ceremonies where we commemorate together
our sons lying side by side in our soil."
The full text of Rev. Nile's speech can be read below:
"I speak about the Hellenic Pontian Genocide Commemoration, which
was commemorated tonight in New South Wales Parliament House, and
relate that commemoration to other aspects of the Anzac service. I was
pleased to be a guest at this annual event tonight, along with other
members of the New South Wales Parliament. I was particularly pleased
to receive a plaque and historical portrait for my efforts in moving
the motion in this House some weeks ago. Plaques and a portrait were
also presented to the Premier, the Hon. Barry O'Farrell, for his action
in moving a similar motion in the other place. Those items were handed
to the Hon. David Clarke, who was representing the Premier. The event
held tonight was organised in collaboration with all the different
Pontian organisations-the United Pontian Association of NSW, the
Pontian Association of Wollongong "Diogenes", with representatives
from Victoria, and from Melbourne in particular.
Along with colleagues from all parties and both Chambers of this
Parliament, we commemorated the tragic loss of almost three million
Hellenes, people of Greek background, Armenians and Assyrians at
the hands of the Ottoman government, across the Middle East. The
connection of the Anzacs to the genocides of the indigenous Armenian,
Assyrian and Hellenic populations of Anatolia has recently returned
to the mainstream of Australian history.
This has been triggered by the pending anniversaries of the outbreak
of World War I, the commencement of the genocides of the Armenians,
Assyrians and Hellenes, and the landings on the Gallipoli peninsula.
These three anniversaries fall within a few months of each other
and mark events that left an indelible imprint on the Anzacs and on
Australian society as a whole.
The Anzacs were formed at the eruption of the war. A few months later
they were serving on the front lines, where they came into contact
with the genocides of the Armenians, Assyrians and Hellenes.
Approximately 300 Anzacs were captured by the Turkish armies on the
various fronts of Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine and Mesopotamia. Almost
one-third of them died in captivity. Many Anzac prisoners of war
recorded their experiences in secret diaries or post-war reports. The
original documents are now housed at the Australian War Memorial in
Canberra. Gallipoli prisoner Private Daniel Bartholomew Creedon of
the 9th Battalion recorded in his diary on 2 February 1916 that the
people in Ankara, where he was being held, said that the Turks killed
1¼ million Armenians. HMAS AE2 crew member John Harrison Wheat wrote
in his diary on 18 August 1915:
All the Armenians are driven from [Afyonkarahissar]. The principal
cause of this is the Armenians are Christians and all the business
of the town is carried on by them. There is a very strong feeling
against the Christians in this Country. At this time, thousands of
Armenians were turned out of these big towns to starve and thousands
were massacred.
The circumstances of the war also made Anzacs the rescuers of genocide
survivors. Imperial Camel Corps Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Mills wrote
in his diary how in 1917 his men collected Armenian survivors in their
drive up the Jordan River Valley. Mills carried a one-year-old girl
asleep in his arms on his camel. The largest operation occurred in the
northern summer of 1918. Nine Australian and New Zealand servicemen,
led by Captain Stanley Savige, decided to protect a ragged column of
80,000 Assyrian genocide survivors. These Anzacs were all that stood
between the survivors and annihilation during their 1,000 kilometre
trek from Iran's Urmia region to the plains near Baghdad, Iraq.
However, only 40,000 reached safety in spite of the protection by that
small band of nine Anzac soldiers. They carried with them a collection
of diaries, photographs and films recorded by the Dunsterforce men.
Anzacs who experienced the genocides later joined the international
rescue mission led by the Near East Relief Organisation. Men such as
AFC Captain Thomas Walter White donated time and money to rescue those
who had lost everything. When the fighting was over, they served Cleo,
the muse of history, by documenting their experiences. In the midst of
such inhumanity, the Anzacs did not forget their duty as human beings
and are now regaining their rightful place in Anzac history. As we
head into the centenary year of the landings at Anzac Cove, it is not
an act of friendship to declare that Australian parliamentarians who
support motions recognising aspects of Australian history are not
welcome at the commemorations at Gallipoli in 2015.
Modern Turkey and modern Australia must have a friendship that is
based on mutual respect and understanding of historical differences.
Turkey and Australia have overcome the legacy of the battles on
Gallipoli, so we must overcome whatever difference of opinion we have
about recent motions recognising the Assyrian and Hellenic genocides
and reaffirming the Armenian genocide. We all need to learn from
genocides and other episodes of persecution in order to prevent from
them happening again. In Syria, Iraq, Egypt and many other lands,
Christians continue to suffer. Lest we forget.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/06/21/australian-mp-urges-turkey-to-recognize-the-crimes-of-genocide/
From: Baghdasarian