CANBERRA: The Australian Capital Territory Young Liberals have unanimously adopted a motion condemning Azerbaijan’s ‘brutal’ and ‘illegal’ invasion of the Republic of Armenia at their latest Policy Convention, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).
The motion was championed by ANC-AU – Canberra branch representatives and members of the ACT Young Liberals, Sophie Bjorkman and Anton Vassalo.
The motion was adopted without dissent and acknowledged Azerbaijan’s illegal attacks against civilian settlements and infrastructure inside Armenia, and the abuse and torture experienced by Armenian prisoners of war following the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh War.
The ACT Young Liberals also called on Australia’s Federal Government to unequivocally support the protection of Armenia’s sovereign borders, and for Azerbaijan’s armed forces to withdraw from the internationally recognised borders of the Republic of Armenia.
Delegate Sophie Bjorkman said: “I am thrilled that the ACT Young Liberals have unanimously stood in solidarity with Armenians across Canberra and the country in sticking up for their rights to live in peace and freedom.”
ANC-AU – Canberra Branch Chairperson, Dr. Diana Antonosyan said: “This is yet another example of why it is extremely important to have young Armenian-Australians involved in the political process across the country. The leadership of Sophie and Anton allowed us to bring this hidden conflict out of the shadows and give it the attention it deserves.”
ANC-AU Executive Director Michael Kolokossian thanked the ANC-AU – Canberra Branch for their ongoing advocacy and the ACT Young Liberals for reaffirming their commitment to supporting just motions in support of the indigenous Armenians of the Republics of Armenia and Artsakh.
Read the full motion below: The ACT Young Liberalsi) Condemn Azerbaijan’s illegal and brutal invasion of the Republic of Armenia, their shelling and destruction of civilian settlements and infrastructure and their torture and abuse of Armenian prisoners of war, and ii) Call on the Australian Government to signal support for the protection of Armenian sovereignty and territorial integrity by calling for the withdrawal of Azerbaijani military personnel from the sovereign borders of the Republic of Armenia.
