SYDNEY: Following meetings with the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), member of the NSW Legislative Assembly, Damien Tudehope MP addressed NSW Parliament in commemoration of the Sumgait Massacres, drawing a link between this modern tragedy and the Armenian Genocide, while remembering the life of young Artsakh soldier Hayk Kalantaryan, recently killed at the Nagorno Karabakh border.
“The horrific events of the Armenian genocide and the massacre of innocent civilians over 100 years ago remains a source of ongoing distress for the Armenian people, with some governments still unwilling to acknowledge that it actually happened,” Tudehope said on 7th March, 2018.
“That is why, in February this year, the Armenian community commemorated another anniversary—30 years since the Sumgait massacre, when Armenians living in the town of Sumgait were targeted by mobs of Azerbaijani citizens.”
Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) Executive Director praised Tudehope for bringing awareness to the continuing legacy of genocide and injustice.
"We thank Mr. Tudehope for discussing the Armenian Genocide, for discussing Sumgait, and perhaps most importantly, for bringing awareness to the broader injustices occurring against the peace-loving Armenians of the Republic of Artsakh today by highlighting the recent murder, by Azeri bullet, of young Hayk Kalantaryan," commended Kayserian.
"This week's parliamentary statements by Mr. Tudehope, Dr. Hugh McDermott and Mr. Jonathan O'Dea is appreciated by NSW Armenians, who are in the large, descendants of survivors of the Armenian Genocide and want to stop the cycle of genocide. We remember Sumgait and mourn every death at Armenian borders," Kayserian added.
Tudehope praised his local Armenian community in his state electorate of Epping for the contributions they’ve made to multiculturalism. He went on to commend the work of the NSW Parliament in recognising the historic injustice perpetrated against the Armenian people, passing a motion recognising the Armenian Genocide in 1997, and being amongst the first legislatures in the world to recognise the Artsakh Republic in 2012.
In commenting on the events of Sumgait, Tudehope noted ongoing hostility in the region of Nagorno Karabakh.
“As early as February this year, 20-year-old Artsakh Army officer, Hayk Kalantaryan was shot dead by Azeri fire at the border that is meant to have an internationally enforced ceasefire,” Tudehope explained. “Hayk is not alone. Around 50 Armenian deaths were recorded last year and more than 100 the year before.”
Tudehope outlined the importance of the work of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as well as foreign legislatures, in pursuing the peace and security in the region – in particular, the confidence and security building proposals made by the United States Congress.
Tudehope added: “In an effort to return the parties to a more productive negotiation table, the organisation has backed three suggestions that came from the United States Congress: The removal of snipers from the line of contact; increased OSCE monitors on the ground; and the installation of gun?fire locator systems to confirm who is at fault for the constant breaches of the ceasefire, like the one that resulted in young Hayk Karapetyan's death on 9 February. Artsakh and Armenia have agreed to those suggestions. Azerbaijan has not.”
Tudehope concluded by asking Australians to reflect on the centuries of ongoing tensions faced by the Armenian people in their homeland and not take for granted the safe, tolerant, and free society we are fortunate to have in Australia.
Tudehope's speech came one day after speeches on broadly similar matters in the NSW Parliament, by Jonathan O'Dea and Hugh McDermott (click here to see coverage).