MELBOURNE: The Armenian National Committee of Australia Melbourne (ANC Australia Melbourne) will honour the memory of the Sumgait Massacre victims during a commemorative evening starting 7:30 pm on Sunday 26th February 2012 in the hall of the Melbourne Armenian Cultural Centre, 8-12 Police Road Springvale.
The commemoration which will mark the 24th anniversary of the tragic massacre will feature an address by ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian who in 2010 met with Republic of Nagorno Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan.
During the winter of 1988, Azeri mobs targeted and killed more than 50 Armenians in the city of Sumgait. The massacre sparked the beginning of the movement to seek independence for the Armenians of Karabakh.
Recalling the massacre of Armenians in Sumgait ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian said: “The pogroms in Baku and Sumgait became headline news and triggered worldwide support for the independence movement in Nagorno Karabakh.”
“It is important that we remember the massacre and bring greater awareness to Nagorno Karabakh’s right to self determination.”
ANC Australia Melbourne Representative Chris Atamian urged the Melbourne-Armenian community to join ANC Australia at its first event for 2012.
“We encourage our entire community to join us at the commemoration of the Sumgait Massacre to honour the memory of those who perished and to gain a better understanding of the current circumstances facing the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh,” he said.
Excerpts from the documentary ‘Karabakh Wounds’ will also be screened at the event.
A commemorative evening will also be held at the Armenian Cultural Centre in Sydney on Friday 16th March 2012.
