News

SYDNEY: New South Wales Labor Member of the Legislative Council, the Hon. Stephen Lawrence, has risen in the NSW Upper House and called for unequivocal condemnation of Azerbaijan’s forced displacement of Armenians from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and call for the right of return under international guarantees for over 100,000 Armenians.

Elected to the Parliament of New South Wales in May 2022, the newest member of the Australian Friends of Artsakh network acknowledged the 24-hour military assault came after a 10-month blockade of the Republic of Artsakh, cutting off vital supplies, including food, water and medicine.

The Notice of Motion tabled on Tuesday, 21st November 2023, came after the Azerbaijani Embassy in Australia wrote to parliamentarians in New South Wales and Victoria condemning the statements of Tim James MP, Hugh McDermott MP, Mark Coure MP, Matt Cross MP, Kim Wells MP, Susan Carter MLC and Ann-Marie Hermans MLC – who participated in the third Australian Parliamentary Delegation to the Republic of Armenia which met with displaced persons from Artsakh and delivered essential supplies following the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh.

Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) Executive Director Michael Kolokossian thanked Mr Lawrence for his solidarity with Armenian-Australians during this difficult time.

“This motion ensures Mr Lawrence joins a growing caucus of national political leaders standing lockstead with Armenian-Australians as our homeland remains ethnically cleansed and occupied. We are extremely grateful for this principled stance and are hopeful the motion will come to the floor for debate in the coming sitting weeks,” said Kolokossian.

To watch the Notice of Motion being tables in the Legislative Council, please click here or view below.