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AUSTRALIAN POLITICIAN CALLS ON TURKEY TO RECOGNIZE CRIME OF GENOCIDE
Assyrian International News Agency AINA
June 21 2013
A 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, reported the
Armenian National Committee of Australia.
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 recognize 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 recognizing 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 recognize
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 recognizing 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
recognizing the Assyrian and Greek genocides while reaffirming its 1997
motion recognizing 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."
http://www.aina.org/news/20130621145048.htm
Assyrian International News Agency AINA
June 21 2013
A 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, reported the
Armenian National Committee of Australia.
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 recognize 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 recognizing 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 recognize
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 recognizing 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
recognizing the Assyrian and Greek genocides while reaffirming its 1997
motion recognizing 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."
http://www.aina.org/news/20130621145048.htm