CANBERRA: A joint delegation of the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) and the Australian Hellenic Council (AHC) was at in Canberra this week to advocate for recognition of the Armenian and Hellenic Genocides by the Federal government of Australia.
The delegates visited the offices of various legislators where they discussed issues of interest to the Armenian-Australian and Hellenic-Australian communities, and furthered the cause for Federal recognition of the Armenian and Hellenic Genocides.
At the meetings, representatives of ANC Australia and the AHC presented a multimedia pack containing information regarding the Armenian and Hellenic Genocides, the eyewitness testimonies of Australian prisoners of war and Australian relief efforts to aid the survivors of the genocides.
ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian said: "Our activity with the Australian Hellenic Council in the federal parliament has attracted the attention of very many legislators."
"We will continue to work with the Australian Hellenic Council and others to ensure that our elected representatives are made aware that genocide recognition remains important to numerous community groups in Australia."
After the Canberra meetings, AHC NSW President George Vellis summed up the reason for the joint efforts.
He said: "At the heart of concerns of the more than 1,000,000 Australians of Hellenic, Armenian and Assyrian descent, lies the recognition of the Hellenic, Armenian and Assyrian Genocides by the Federal government of Australia."
Picture above: Varant Meguerditchian (ANC Australia), Natasha Griggs (LIB - Northern Territory) and George Vellis (AHC)
