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FOREIGN MINISTER JULIE BISHOP CONFIRMS TURKEY'S GAG RULE ON AUSTRALIA
Thursday, 08 January 2015
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CANBERRA: Documents obtained under a Freedom of Information request by
the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) confirm
that the Australian government continues to be gagged by Turkey on the
issue of the Armenian Genocide.
In a letter addressed to then-Foreign Minister of Turkey, Ahmet
Davutoglu, Julie Bishop writes: "Recognising the important interests
at stake for both countries, I assure you that there has been no
decision to change the long-standing position of successive Australian
Governments on this issue."
The letter from the Australian Foreign Minister further emphasises
Turkey's "gag rule" by qualifying Australia's position on the Armenian
Genocide with the words: "recognising the important interests at stake
for both countries". It has already been revealed that Turkey is
currently on an international campaign to gag leading nations from
speaking truthfully and honestly on the Armenian Genocide.
A large part of the documents released by the Department of Foreign
Affairs were redacted in full, citing disclosure of documents would
cause damage to "the international relations of the Commonwealth."
ANC Australia Executive Director, Vache Kahramanian, commented: "It is
obvious that Australia has succumbed to Turkey's ongoing threats to
ban Members of Parliament from attending the Centenary commemorations
at ANZAC Cove, and even close ANZAC Cove in its entirety in the lead
up to the Centenary, should Australia recognise the events of 1915 as
genocide."
"It is bewildering that the Australian government needs to redact a
large number of documents held by the Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade on the Armenian Genocide."
Kahramanian added: "It is clear that Australian government officials
continue to succumb to ongoing threats by Turkey and as a result allow
a foreign government to dictate Australia's position on this issue."
"In this Centenary year, where Australia will commemorate the horrors
of World War I, it should also have the moral courage to unequivocally
recognise and condemn the Armenian Genocide and pay homage to the
thousands of Australia who were at the forefront of providing
international aid during and after the Armenian genocide of
1915-1923."
The release from DFAT can be accessed at
.https://dfat.gov.au/foi/downloads/dfat-foi-1410-F953.pdf
http://anc.org.au/news/Media-Releases/Foreign-Minister-Julie-Bishop-confirms-Turkey---s-gag-rule-on-Australia
Thursday, 08 January 2015
Image is missing
CANBERRA: Documents obtained under a Freedom of Information request by
the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) confirm
that the Australian government continues to be gagged by Turkey on the
issue of the Armenian Genocide.
In a letter addressed to then-Foreign Minister of Turkey, Ahmet
Davutoglu, Julie Bishop writes: "Recognising the important interests
at stake for both countries, I assure you that there has been no
decision to change the long-standing position of successive Australian
Governments on this issue."
The letter from the Australian Foreign Minister further emphasises
Turkey's "gag rule" by qualifying Australia's position on the Armenian
Genocide with the words: "recognising the important interests at stake
for both countries". It has already been revealed that Turkey is
currently on an international campaign to gag leading nations from
speaking truthfully and honestly on the Armenian Genocide.
A large part of the documents released by the Department of Foreign
Affairs were redacted in full, citing disclosure of documents would
cause damage to "the international relations of the Commonwealth."
ANC Australia Executive Director, Vache Kahramanian, commented: "It is
obvious that Australia has succumbed to Turkey's ongoing threats to
ban Members of Parliament from attending the Centenary commemorations
at ANZAC Cove, and even close ANZAC Cove in its entirety in the lead
up to the Centenary, should Australia recognise the events of 1915 as
genocide."
"It is bewildering that the Australian government needs to redact a
large number of documents held by the Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade on the Armenian Genocide."
Kahramanian added: "It is clear that Australian government officials
continue to succumb to ongoing threats by Turkey and as a result allow
a foreign government to dictate Australia's position on this issue."
"In this Centenary year, where Australia will commemorate the horrors
of World War I, it should also have the moral courage to unequivocally
recognise and condemn the Armenian Genocide and pay homage to the
thousands of Australia who were at the forefront of providing
international aid during and after the Armenian genocide of
1915-1923."
The release from DFAT can be accessed at
.https://dfat.gov.au/foi/downloads/dfat-foi-1410-F953.pdf
http://anc.org.au/news/Media-Releases/Foreign-Minister-Julie-Bishop-confirms-Turkey---s-gag-rule-on-Australia