For Immediate Release
ANC Australia's Message on the Occasion of the Official Visit to Australia of Turkish PM
Armenian National Committee of Australia Inc.
The Peak Public Affairs Committee of the Armenian-Australian Community
259 Penshurst Street, P.O. Box 768, Willoughby NSW 2068
Tel: (02) 9419 8264 Fax: (02) 9411 8898
Email:info@anc.net.au
6 December 2005
Contact: Dr
Tro Kortian
ANC Australia's Message on the Occasion of the Official Visit to Australia of Turkish PM
"YES" to closer trade and cultural ties between Australia and Turkey;
"NO" to denial of the Armenian Genocide and the blockade of Armenia
SYDNEY: The Armenian National Committee of Australia Inc (ANC Australia)
has called on Australia's Prime Minister Howard to urge Turkish Prime
Minster Erdogan during his official visit to Australia to desist from
the Turkish Government's morally bankrupt policy of denial of the
Armenian Genocide.
"We welcome all efforts to improve cultural, educational and mutually beneficial trade ties between Australia and other countries such as Turkey. Nevertheless, we firmly believe that the development and improvement of relations between Australia and Turkey must not be at the expense of such critical issues of importance as human rights." said Dr Tro Kortian, President of the ANC Australia.
He furthermore added "The forthcoming official visit should not discourage Australia from firmly adding its voice against such genocide denial and the persecution of those courageous writers, academics and other citizens in Turkey (including the internationally renowned Turkish writer Orhan Parmuk) who are calling for real democracy in their country and an open and honest re-assessment of their history, including the dark chapter of the Armenian Genocide".
Dr Kortian went on to urge " We respectfully call on you unequivocally to convey to the Prime Minister of Turkey that it desist from its futile policy of denial of the Armenian Genocide and that it immediately lift is illegal blockade of the Republic of Armenia.
Turkey recently commenced its long path of negotiation for possible membership of the European Union. The European Parliament re-iterated, however, its long-held position by passing a resolution on 28 September 2005 whereby it called on Turkey to (among other things) "Recognise the Armenian genocide; considers this recognition to be a prerequisite for accession to the European Union".
The full text of ANC Australia's letter to
Australian Prime Minister John Howard is found below:
5 December 2005
The Hon. John
Howard MP
By Facsimile (02) 6273 4100
Prime Minister
of Australia
(5 pages)
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT
2600
Dear Prime
Minister
Re: Official Visit by Prime Minister of Turkey and his delegation
"YES" to closer trade and cultural ties between Australia and Turkey;
"NO" to
denial of the Armenian Genocide and the blockade of Armenia
We understand that the Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr Recep Erdogan, will be in Australia at the end of this week for an official visit and with a significant ministerial and trade delegation.
We welcome all efforts to improve cultural, educational and mutually beneficial trade ties between Australia and other countries such as Turkey. Nevertheless, we firmly believe that the development and improvement of relations between Australia and Turkey must not be at the expense of such critical issues of importance as human rights.
In particular, we strongly object to the Turkish Government's continuation of its morally bankrupt policy of denial of the Genocide of the Armenians during World War I by its predecessor Ottoman Turkish Government. Further, the forthcoming official visit should not discourage Australia from firmly adding its voice against such genocide denial and the persecution of those courageous writers, academics and other citizens in Turkey (including the internationally renowned Turkish writer Orhan Parmuk) who are calling for real democracy in their country and an open and honest re-assessment of their history, including the dark chapter of the Armenian Genocide.
The increasing call by the international community, including many in Australia, for the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide is not directed against the Turkish people. Rather, it is directed against the dangerous precedent set by the continued impunity with which successive Turkish Governments have enjoyed the economic, political and territorial fruits of that crime against humanity.
We respectfully call on you unequivocally to convey to the Prime Minister of Turkey that it desist from its futile policy of denial of the Armenian Genocide and that it immediately lift is illegal blockade of the Republic of Armenia.
In the words of the International Association of Genocide Scholars in their letter to Prime Minister Erdogan affirming the irrefutable historical veracity of the Armenian Genocide (see attached):
"We believe that it is clearly in the interest of the Turkish people and their future as a proud and equal participant in international, democratic discourse to acknowledge the responsibility of a previous government for the genocide of the Armenian people, just as the German government and people have done in the case of the Holocaust."
As Turkey starts its long path of negotiation for possible membership of the European Union, the European Parliament re-iterated its long-held position by passing a resolution on 28 September 2005 whereby it called on Turkey to (among other things) "recognise the Armenian genocide; considers this recognition to be a prerequisite for accession to the European Union"
We thank you
for your consideration of this important matter.
Yours
faithfully
Dr Tro Kortian
President
Encls/
Copy: The Hon Kim Beazley MP
Leader of the Federal Opposition
Fax: (02) 6277
8495
The Hon Alexander Downer MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Fax: (02) 6273
4112
Mr Kevin Rudd MP
Opposition Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
Fax: (02) 6277
8508
Hon Joe Hockey MP
Minister for Human Services
Member for North Sydney
Fax: (02) 6273
4406
Hon Morris Iemma MP
Premier of
NSW, Treasurer, and Minister
for Citizenship
Fax: (02) 9228 3934
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