SYDNEY: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) has received a response to their Open Letter to Federal Member for Bennelong, the Hon. Maxine McKew MP regarding her failure as yet to honour her pre-election pledge to "unequivocally and publically" advocate for Armenian Genocide recognition.
ANC Australia had written to Ms McKew on 18 November, citing her address in Parliament last month where she referred to the Armenian Genocide with euphemisms such as “mass killingsâ€, “tragedyâ€, “misery†and “deportationsâ€.
Ms McKew wrote to ANC Australia (letter published below) on 24 November, stating she was the "subject of a public campaign of misinformation". She further objected that her constituency address in Parliament (
click here to read) last month was not published in its entirety, and therefore omitted from it was her "specific mention of 'mass killings and deportation'".
ANC Australia, in their latest response (published below) on 26 November, has sought to clarify their position.
The letter reads: "...our objection is in relation to your avoidance of the use of the term ‘genocide’ in describing the Armenian Genocide.
"Instead, as you rightly point out in your response, you have utilised euphemisms such as 'mass killings', 'tragedy', 'misery' and 'deportations'.
"...these euphemisms and their intent in avoiding the use of the term ‘genocide’ are offensive to your constituents."
The letter continues: "Our community remains unconvinced that you are fulfilling your election promise to 'unequivocally and publically' advocate for recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Federal Government of Australia, when you have neither called for recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Parliament or at an ‘Armenian Genocide Commemoration Evening’ in the two years since you have been elected.
"Thus our request remains consistent with your pre-election promise, your moral conviction and the collective will of your community. Our expectation is, as the elected Federal Member for Bennelong, you unequivocally and publically affirm the historical truth of the Armenian Genocide by referring to it as the Armenian Genocide."
ANC Australia President, Mr. Varant Meguerditchian said he looks forward to meeting again with Ms McKew to clarify the issue.
He said: "Ms McKew has either misunderstood the issue at hand or misinterpreted the sensitivities this subject has on her constituent community."
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ANC Australia response - 26 November, 2009The Hon. Maxine McKew MP
Member for Bennelong
Level 3, 230 Victoria Road
Gladesville NSW 2111
RE: RESPONSE TO OUR OPEN LETTER
Dear Ms McKew,
Thank you for your response and for affirming that our meeting was cordial. We expect that all meetings, held between ANC Australia members and elected members of Parliament, are cordial.
Further, we thank you for acknowledging that both representatives of our delegation expressed concerns about the Armenia-Turkey Protocols and the joint commission suggested within. We will also be pleased to publish your statement in its entirety.
Our objection is not in relation to those parts of the statement which focus on reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey. Rather, our objection is in relation to your avoidance of the use of the term ‘genocide’ in describing the Armenian Genocide.
Instead, as you rightly point out in your response, you have utilised euphemisms such as “mass killingsâ€, “tragedyâ€, “misery†and “deportationsâ€.
This falls well short of your 2007 Election pledge to “unequivocally and publically†advocate for recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Federal Government of Australia.
In fact, the use of these euphemisms in describing what the International Association of Genocide Scholars has declared a foremost example of ‘genocide’ is viewed by our community as a deliberate action of issue-avoidance. Moreover, these euphemisms and their intent in avoiding the use of the term ‘genocide’ are offensive to your constituents.
Our community remains unconvinced that you are fulfilling your election promise to “unequivocally and publically†advocate for recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Federal Government of Australia, when you have neither called for recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Parliament or at an ‘Armenian Genocide Commemoration Evening’ in the two years since you have been elected.
Thus our request remains consistent with your pre-election promise, your moral conviction and the collective will of your community. Our expectation is, as the elected Federal Member for Bennelong, you unequivocally and publically affirm the historical truth of the Armenian Genocide by referring to it as the Armenian Genocide.
It seems your suggestion that we are leading a “public campaign of misinformation†is either the result of a misunderstanding of the issue at hand, or a misinterpretation of the sensitivities this subject has on your constituent community.
We are happy to clarify these issues, as we have in the past, by meeting with you at your electorate office.
Sincerely,
[Signed]
Â
Varant Meguerditchian
President
