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Australia's Treasurer Hockey stays true, while Prime Minister Abbott
backflips on Armenian Genocide
12:16 30.04.2014
Australia's Treasurer, the Hon. Joe Hockey MP, has become the
country's most senior government minister to place on record the
historical reality of the Armenian genocide, despite his leader, Prime
Minister Tony Abbott backflipping to avoid the use of the word
`genocide,' the Armenian National Committee of Australia reports.
In a statement prepared for the 99th anniversary commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide, Hockey stated: `Today we gather to remember the 1.5
million people who perished in the genocide.'
He added: `Back in 1915, the word `genocide' did not existŠ But there
is simply no other word for what happened to the Armenian people of
Ottoman Turkey.'
The Treasurer has broken ranks with Prime Minister Abbott, who failed
to recongize the Armenian Genocide in a statement the Armenian
National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) described as an
`insult'.
Abbott, who in his years as Opposition Leader joined the
Armenian-Australian community in commemorating the Armenian Genocide
with powerful statements, has failed to continue to do so on the eve
of the centenary of the Armenian Genocide.
ANC Australia has written to the Prime Minister to express the anger
of the Armenian-Australian community. Executive Director Vache
Kahramanian's letter to the Prime Minister included the following
words: `This message is of great insult to the Armenian-Australian
community with its blatant omission of the Genocide word. The
community tomorrow night is not holding a '99th Armenian
Commemoration' as your letter was titled, we are marking the '99th
Anniversary Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide'.'
In contrast to Abbott, Hockey states in a powerfully worded statement:
`No Armenian family escaped being touched by the Armenian genocide.
That is why, for me, having visited the Armenian Genocide Monument in
Yerevan it was one of the most emotional experiences of my public
life.'
Kahramanian remarked: `This statement is a clear testament that there
are elected officials within positions of power who are willing to
navigate Australia's moral compass in the right direction.'
`On behalf of the Armenian-Australian community, I thank the Treasurer
for his steadfast support as we approach the centenary of the Armenian
Genocide,' Kahramanian added.
`Australia has the moral obligation to recognise and condemn this
greatest crime against humanity. Unfortunately the Australian
government allows itself to be blackmailed and silenced by its
so-called ally, Turkey'.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/04/30/australias-treasurer-hockey-stays-true-while-prime-minister-abbott-backflips-on-armenian-genocide/
backflips on Armenian Genocide
12:16 30.04.2014
Australia's Treasurer, the Hon. Joe Hockey MP, has become the
country's most senior government minister to place on record the
historical reality of the Armenian genocide, despite his leader, Prime
Minister Tony Abbott backflipping to avoid the use of the word
`genocide,' the Armenian National Committee of Australia reports.
In a statement prepared for the 99th anniversary commemoration of the
Armenian Genocide, Hockey stated: `Today we gather to remember the 1.5
million people who perished in the genocide.'
He added: `Back in 1915, the word `genocide' did not existŠ But there
is simply no other word for what happened to the Armenian people of
Ottoman Turkey.'
The Treasurer has broken ranks with Prime Minister Abbott, who failed
to recongize the Armenian Genocide in a statement the Armenian
National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) described as an
`insult'.
Abbott, who in his years as Opposition Leader joined the
Armenian-Australian community in commemorating the Armenian Genocide
with powerful statements, has failed to continue to do so on the eve
of the centenary of the Armenian Genocide.
ANC Australia has written to the Prime Minister to express the anger
of the Armenian-Australian community. Executive Director Vache
Kahramanian's letter to the Prime Minister included the following
words: `This message is of great insult to the Armenian-Australian
community with its blatant omission of the Genocide word. The
community tomorrow night is not holding a '99th Armenian
Commemoration' as your letter was titled, we are marking the '99th
Anniversary Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide'.'
In contrast to Abbott, Hockey states in a powerfully worded statement:
`No Armenian family escaped being touched by the Armenian genocide.
That is why, for me, having visited the Armenian Genocide Monument in
Yerevan it was one of the most emotional experiences of my public
life.'
Kahramanian remarked: `This statement is a clear testament that there
are elected officials within positions of power who are willing to
navigate Australia's moral compass in the right direction.'
`On behalf of the Armenian-Australian community, I thank the Treasurer
for his steadfast support as we approach the centenary of the Armenian
Genocide,' Kahramanian added.
`Australia has the moral obligation to recognise and condemn this
greatest crime against humanity. Unfortunately the Australian
government allows itself to be blackmailed and silenced by its
so-called ally, Turkey'.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/04/30/australias-treasurer-hockey-stays-true-while-prime-minister-abbott-backflips-on-armenian-genocide/