SYDNEY: Professor Peter Balakian, New York Times bestselling author and guest of the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee, addressed The Sydney Institute on Monday, discussing The World’s Response to the Armenian Genocide.
Balakian, Rebar Professor of the Humanities at Colgate University and Raphael Lemkin Prize-winning author of T
he Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America’s Response (2003), was introduced to the illustrious Institute’s audience of over 100 by Ms Gladys Berejiklian MP, where he highlighted the need for worldwide condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.
“The denial of Turkey demands a response,†said Prof. Balakian before commending Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s February apology to the Aboriginal Stolen Generation as a “benchmark†Turkey must emulate.
“The Government of Turkey must follow the example set by your Prime Minister and accept responsibility for its dark past before attempting to progress as a world democracy,†Prof. Balakian added.
Mr. Gerard Henderson, acclaimed newspaper columnist and executive director of The Sydney Institute, thanked Prof. Balakian for a “significant summary of a very sad eventâ€.
Past speakers at The Sydney Institute include Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and former Prime Minister John Howard, among dozens of Australian and international political figures, diplomats, scholars, journalists and others.
“Professor Balakian’s address to The Sydney Institute is a clear example of introducing the wider Australian community to the Armenian cause,†commented Mr. Varant Meguerditchian of the Armenian Genocide Commemorative Committee.
The full podcast of Prof Balakian’s address to The Sydney Institute is available by clicking here.
