SYDNEY: The Armenian National Committee of Australia has congratulated ABC’s Foreign Correspondent program on achieving a Gold World Medal for their 2006 report on outspoken Turkish author and human rights activist, Orhan Pamuk at the New York Television Festival.
The report, by Middle East Correspondent David Hardaker, highlighted Turkish national Pamuk’s challenge to his government to face up to the Genocide committed against Armenians in 1915.
It was this same challenge for justice, which recently led to the tragic murder of Istanbul-based Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink.
Nobel Prize-winner Pamuk, on whom the winning report was based, fled Turkey following Dink’s shooting in fear of his own life.
ANC Australia’s letter to ABC Foreign Correspondent read: “ANC Australia is pleased that responsible Australian reporting of Turkey’s denialist regime against the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide has been rewarded on the international stage.â€
“Anti-Democratic policies, such as the Armenian Genocide Denial of the Turkish State, must be highlighted by the media. On behalf of the Armenian-Australian community, we thank you for fulfilling your ethical responsibility with your award-winning report and extend our collective congratulations.â€