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Armenian National Committee of Australia Inc.
259 Penshurst Street, P.O. Box 768, Willoughby NSW 2068
Tel: +612 9419 8264 ~ Fax: +612 9411 8898
Email: [email protected]
The Peak Public Affairs Committee of the Armenian-Australian Community
Press Release
Contact:
Dr. Tro Kortian (+61 412 197 364)
Mr. Varant Meguerditchian (+61 414 582 322)
January 26th, 2007
Armenian-Australian Community Leaders Meet with Turkish Ambassador in
Australia
A delegation of Armenian-Australian community leaders including His Eminence
Archbishop Aghan Baliozian Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
representatives of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and Mr.
Varant Meguerditchian, of the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC
of Australia) yesterday met with Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in
Australia, His Excellency N. Murat Ersavci, to convey the
Armenian-Australian community's outrage at the recent murder of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Mr Hrant Dink.
Editor of the Istanbul based 'Agos' newspaper, Dink was an advocate for
freedom of speech, having repeatedly critisised Turkey for its mistreatment
of ethnic minorities and Turkey's continued denial of the Armenian Genocide.
After countless death threats, Dink was gunned down as a result of extremist
behaviour fostered by Turkey's political system.
Ambassador Murat Ersavci refused to accept, after reading, a letter
presented to him by the Armenian community delegation condemning article 301
of the Turkish Penal Code [defined as insulting Turkishness]. The Ambassador
stated that article 301 was an internal matter which did not concern the
Armenian Diaspora and further suggested that the Armenian Diaspora abandon
its fight for recognition of the Armenian Genocide as it was harming
relations between the neighbour nations.
In response, the Armenian-Australian community leaders emphasised to the
Ambassador, that Turkey's political system had moulded its society into one
that encouraged racism and nationalistic behaviour ultimately leading of
Hrant Dink's murder. The Armenian community representatives reiterated their
demand that Turkey abolish article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, bring the
conspirators behind the murder to justice and to accept responsibility for
the Genocide of the Armenians in order to normalise relations between Turkey
and Armenia.
In a joint statement after the meeting, the Diocese of the Armenian Church
in Australia and the Armenian National Committee of Australia declared that
'The meeting was a success. Although the Ambassador rejected our letter, it
was clear to the Turkish representative that the Armenian Diaspora is united
in its outrage at Dink's murder and the continued denial of the Armenian
Genocide.'
_____________________________ ________________________________
During the last days of the Ottoman Empire the 'Young Turk' Government
implemented a policy of Genocide upon its Christian Armenian population. As
a result, up to 1.5million Armenian men, women and children lost their lives
between 1915 and 1922. The
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Turke y - Republic
of Turkey continues to deny responsibility of the Armenian Genocide.
[end]
259 Penshurst Street, P.O. Box 768, Willoughby NSW 2068
Tel: +612 9419 8264 ~ Fax: +612 9411 8898
Email: [email protected]
The Peak Public Affairs Committee of the Armenian-Australian Community
Press Release
Contact:
Dr. Tro Kortian (+61 412 197 364)
Mr. Varant Meguerditchian (+61 414 582 322)
January 26th, 2007
Armenian-Australian Community Leaders Meet with Turkish Ambassador in
Australia
A delegation of Armenian-Australian community leaders including His Eminence
Archbishop Aghan Baliozian Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
representatives of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and Mr.
Varant Meguerditchian, of the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC
of Australia) yesterday met with Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in
Australia, His Excellency N. Murat Ersavci, to convey the
Armenian-Australian community's outrage at the recent murder of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Mr Hrant Dink.
Editor of the Istanbul based 'Agos' newspaper, Dink was an advocate for
freedom of speech, having repeatedly critisised Turkey for its mistreatment
of ethnic minorities and Turkey's continued denial of the Armenian Genocide.
After countless death threats, Dink was gunned down as a result of extremist
behaviour fostered by Turkey's political system.
Ambassador Murat Ersavci refused to accept, after reading, a letter
presented to him by the Armenian community delegation condemning article 301
of the Turkish Penal Code [defined as insulting Turkishness]. The Ambassador
stated that article 301 was an internal matter which did not concern the
Armenian Diaspora and further suggested that the Armenian Diaspora abandon
its fight for recognition of the Armenian Genocide as it was harming
relations between the neighbour nations.
In response, the Armenian-Australian community leaders emphasised to the
Ambassador, that Turkey's political system had moulded its society into one
that encouraged racism and nationalistic behaviour ultimately leading of
Hrant Dink's murder. The Armenian community representatives reiterated their
demand that Turkey abolish article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, bring the
conspirators behind the murder to justice and to accept responsibility for
the Genocide of the Armenians in order to normalise relations between Turkey
and Armenia.
In a joint statement after the meeting, the Diocese of the Armenian Church
in Australia and the Armenian National Committee of Australia declared that
'The meeting was a success. Although the Ambassador rejected our letter, it
was clear to the Turkish representative that the Armenian Diaspora is united
in its outrage at Dink's murder and the continued denial of the Armenian
Genocide.'
_____________________________ ________________________________
During the last days of the Ottoman Empire the 'Young Turk' Government
implemented a policy of Genocide upon its Christian Armenian population. As
a result, up to 1.5million Armenian men, women and children lost their lives
between 1915 and 1922. The
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Turke y - Republic
of Turkey continues to deny responsibility of the Armenian Genocide.
[end]