SYDNEY: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) has written to every member of the New South Wales (NSW) Legislative Council in response to a circulation from Azerbaijani community members condemning the house's motion recognising the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.
In the circulated letter, which was fraught with false accusations including claims of ethnic cleansing by Armenians, ANC Australia provided a historical overview with reference to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, which detailed the pogroms undertaken against Armenians along with reports from Human Rights Watch.
In addition, details were provided on the continuing threats by Azerbaijan of the “physical destruction of airlines” at the newly constructed airport in Stepanakert despite Azerbaijian being a signatory to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, which requires the promotion of safe civilian travel. Details of the threats being made towards civilians were coupled with a recent letter from the Foreign Minister of the Repubic of Nagorno Karabakh to the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, on this very issue.
Additional information was also provided on the case of Ramil Safarov, who was convicted of the axe-murder of an Armenian solider during a NATO program in Budapest. Safarov was extradited back to Azerbaijan, and despite assurances from the Azeri government, he was pardoned and treated as a national hero. ANC Australia also compiled a detailed report outlining the anti-Armenian xenophobic actions of the Azeri government which was become part of that nation's state policy.
ANC Australia Executive Director, Vache Kahramanian commented: “Azerbaijan, through its 'petrodollars', has embarked on an international campaign to spread false and unsupported acquisition about Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. It is extremely important to remain vigilant, to educated members of the public, and to counter anyfalsehoods which are spread.”
New South Wales became the third legislative body in the world to recongise the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and call for the self-determination of its people.
