SYDNEY: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) has thanked the United States Ambassador to Australia Jeffrey L. Bleich after the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted Resolution 252, recognising of the Armenian Genocide.
The resolution, which affirms and condemns the Armenian Genocide as a crime against humanity, paves the way for the resolution to enter US Congress for discussion and a vote.
The letter, sent on behalf of ANC Australia by its President Varant Meguerditchian, read: "The Armenian-Australian community joins human rights advocates worldwide, as well as the government of the Republic of Armenia, the people of Armenia, and the Armenian diaspora in sincere appreciation of this milestone."
Meguerditchian told Armenia Online that this decision, while only a step towards a Congress resolution in the US, sets an important precedent for Australia, where ANC Australia hopes to have the Armenian Genocide recognised at Federal level. The Armenian Genocide has already been recognised by the New South Wales and South Australian state governments, respectively.
He said: "We welcome the decision of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to pass the Armenian Genocide resolution in the United States.
"The recently passed resolution acknowledging the Armenian Genocide by the Parliament of South Australia has built momentum and raised hopes for the Federal Parliament of Australia to also recognise the Genocide of Armenians in 1915."
PLEASE FIND THE FULL LETTER TO THE AMBASSADOR BELOW
Dear Ambassador Bleich,
We write to you, the representative of the United States of America in Australia, in appreciation of the decision by the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs to adopt Resolution 252 on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
The resolution, which affirms and condemns the Armenian Genocide as a crime against humanity, was adopted in the presence of a great number of Americans, Armenian-Americans, Armenian Genocide survivors, Church leaders and the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States of America. Video images were also broadcast which made it possible for many, throughout the world, including Armenian-Australians, to watch as a bi-partisan majority of the Committee was able to recommend that this piece of human history be remembered.
The Armenian-Australian community joins human rights advocates worldwide, as well as the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the people of Armenia, and the Armenian diaspora in sincere appreciation of this milestone.
The resolution paves the way for the US Congress to also affirm the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide and ultimately reflect the values of the United States of America in the noble fight against the crime of genocide and genocide denial.
Yours sincerely,
[signature]
Varant Meguerditchian
President
