News

The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) has recently undertaken steps to serve the greater Armenian-Australian community’s interests by expanding its activities across the nation’s states.

With the great percentage of Armenian-Australians based in Sydney, it was always going to be the centre of the committee’s activities. It was these activities in 1997 which led to New South Wales (NSW) becoming the first Australian state to recognise the Armenian Genocide.

“Through ANC Australia’s advocacy, the greater NSW community has become politically aware of Armenian issues and understands our committee’s role in representing these issues in the public arena,” said ANC Australia Political Relations Officer, Mr. Vache Kahramanian.

However the peak public affairs committee of the Armenian-Australian community realises that many of the issues of concern are not NSW-centred.

Mr. Kahramanian added: “Issues such as recognition of the Armenian Genocide as an unpunished dark chapter in human history is a global battle and our committee is responsible for raising awareness throughout Australia.”

With headquarters based in Sydney’s North, ANC Australia last year formalised chapters in Western Sydney and Melbourne, and has now expanded its activities to cover the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland.

“In the past two years, we have met with over 100 legislators and politicians throughout Australia,” said ANC Australia President, Mr. Varant Meguerditchian. “We have discussed issues including the Armenian Genocide, Nagorno Karabagh, Armenia-Australia relations and specific community concerns ranging from transport and infrastructure to health and education.”

Mr. Meguerditchian feels some of the states with smaller Armenian populations have begun to take “serious notice”.

“ANC Australia has a network of dedicated Armenians in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Canberra who play an integral role in our nationwide representation,” he said. “It is thanks to these individuals that ANC Australia is able to spread its wings and reach out to lawmakers throughout Australia.”