SYDNEY: Recently-elected Member for Bradfield Paul Fletcher marked the sad passing of Sydney-based Armenian Genocide survivor Arshag Badelian in Federal Parliament, and called for Australia to be reminded of the tragedy that was the Armenian Genocide.
The statement on Monday afternoon came after a meeting with the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) last week.
Fletcher said: "I rise today to mark the passing of Mr Arshag Badelian, who was one of the Armenian-Australian community's last living survivors of the Armenian genocide."
"One of the roles the [Armenian-Australian] community plays which is very important is to constantly remind Australian society more generally of the tragedy of the Armenian genocide in 1915. The community and its leaders work tirelessly to ensure that this genocide is not forgotten.
"It may perhaps be less well known in the community than the Holocaust, which affected the Jewish people, but it is just as shocking an example of human evil."
Fletcher took over as Member for Bradfield following the retirement of a long-time Friend of the Armenian-Australian community, the Hon. Dr. Brendan Nelson. And according to ANC Australia, Fletcher has already shown he is eager to continue that relationship.
ANC Australia President, Varant Meguerditchian said: "We thank Mr. Fletcher for his statement on the sad passing of Mr. Badelian - one of our community's last remaining Armenian Genocide survivors."
He added: "Mr. Fletcher's statement is the start of what we expect will be his integral involvement in our efforts to have Australia recognise the Armenian Genocide."
