ADELAIDE: South Australia became the second state in Australia to recognise the rights to self-determination of the Republic of Artsakh, condemning Azerbaijan and Turkey for their invasion of the country's indigenous Armenians in a motion passed with a vote in the House of Assembly, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).
The motion follows one passed by the New South Wales Parliament's Legislative Assembly in October 2020, and similarly "calls on the Federal Government to also recognise the Republic of Artsakh as the only permanent solution to the conflict to avoid further attempts of such military aggression".
Member for West Torrens, the Hon. Tom Koustantonis MP moved the historic motion, which also called out "the actions of President Erdogan of Turkey and President Aliyev of Azerbaijan in their pursuit of a policy of Pan-Turkish nationalism, which has previously led to genocide and which now threatens the Armenian population of Artsakh with ethnic cleansing".
The House of Assembly considered a proposal to "adjourn the debate", however this was defeated by the casting vote of the Speaker. The debate resumed and resulted in a vote – without dissent – in favour of the motion.
ANC-AU Executive Director Haig Kayserian thanked the Armenian Cultural Association of South Australia (ACASA) for their grassroots advocacy.
"We were proud to support members of Adelaide's dedicated Armenian community for their tireless efforts on the ground, which have ensured South Australia's parliament has joined a growing number of legislatures around the world supporting the legitimate rights to self-determination of the Republic of Artsakh," said Kayserian.
"Mr Emil Davityan and the President of the Armenian Cultural Association of South Australia are a credit to the greater Armenian-Australian community and were a pleasure to work with to achieving this wonderful outcome for our heroic brothers and sisters of the Armenian Republic of Artsakh," he added.
Emil Davityan added: "We thank Mr Tom Koustantonis and Ms Jayne Stinson for championing this motion and extend our gratitude to all parliamentarians who supported its passage in the name of human rights."
"South Australia's Armenian community wanted to play its part in supporting the people of Artsakh, bringing attention to the critical humanitarian issues in the region and contributing to an enduring and peaceful settlement to the conflict. The community thanks all who supported it in its endeavours."
The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Artsakh in Australia, Kaylar Michaelian said South Australia's recognition has restored Stepanakert's faith in humanity.
"On behalf of the indigenous Armenian people of the Republic of Artsakh, our office welcomes with deep gratitude the motion passed by the South Australian House of Assembly condemning the illegal and unprovoked military aggression by Azerbaijan, Turkey and their hired Jihadist mercenaries. We are encouraged by the support of the Parliament for the right to self-determination of our people in Artsakh," Michaelian said.
"We continue to have our faith restored in humanity, when the good people of South Australia chose to stand for democratic values and human rights wherever in the world these may be under threat. A clear signal has been sent from Adelaide to Baku and Ankara that, despite their best efforts at obfuscation and misinformation, righteous Australians will stand shoulder to shoulder with the peace-loving Armenians in Armenia and Artsakh," Michaelian added.
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The Motion in full reads as follows:
That this House: (1)Notes the actions and belligerence of Azerbaijan towards the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh in commencing military action on 27 September 2020. (2)Notes the serious concerns that have been raised from Armenian-Australians regarding the existential threat to the indigenous Armenian population of the Republic of Artsakh by this military action, and in any attempts by Azerbaijan to prevent the peaceful resettlement of the indigenous Armenian population following agreement to a provisional ceasefire on 9 November 2020. (3) Notes the serious concerns raised by Armenian-Australians and independent international organisations regarding the risk of Azerbaijan destroying sites of global cultural and historical significance. (4)Condemns the actions of President Erdogan of Turkey and President Aliyev of Azerbaijan in their pursuit of a policy of Pan-Turkish nationalism, which has previously led to genocide and which now threatens the Armenian population of Artsakh with ethnic cleansing. (5)Calls on the Federal Government to condemn these attacks and advocate its support for the safety and security of the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh. (6)Recognise the right to self-determination of all peoples including those of the Republic of Artsakh and calls on the Federal Government to also recognise the Republic of Artsakh as the only permanent solution to the conflict to avoid further attempts of such military aggression.
