GORIS, ARMENIA: New South Wales Shadow Multicultural Minister, Mark Coure MP spoke to ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Radio National Drive from a refugee processing centre in Goris, Armenia whilst witnessing thousands fleeing from Azerbaijani aggression, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).
On 27 September 2023, Coure was part of the seven members of the Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Armenia who visited the border city of Goris, hosting thousands of Armenian refugees fleeing the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) as a result of Azerbaijan's military aggression, before assisting in the preparation and delivery of the Armenian Relief Society of Australia’s humanitarian aid, funded through the Ryde City Council Mayor’s Appeal for Artsakh.
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The Azerbaijani petro-dictatorship accelerated its ethnic cleansing campaign against the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh last December, when they subjected the population to a crippling blockade, which attracted the criticism of the international community, including Australia. The International Court of Justice also ordered provisional action for Azerbaijan to end the blockade. In what was referred to as genocide by academia and legal experts, the blockade lasted nine months, before the latest military assault on Nagorno Karabakh, which has led to the current displacement and refugee influx into Armenia.
Seven Australian parliamentarians from the New South Wales and Victorian Parliaments are participating in the third Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Armenia, led by the Co-Chairs of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Armenia, Hugh McDermott MP and Tim James MP. They are joined by NSW State parliamentary colleagues Mark Coure MP - NSW Member for Oatley, Matt Cross MP - Member for Davidson, Susan Carter MLC - Member of the Legislative Council, as well as two sitting Victorian State MPs, including Kim Wells MP - Victorian Member for Rowville and Ann-Marie Hermans MP - Member of the Victorian Legislative Council, as well as former federal parliamentarian, Tim Wilson - Former Federal Member for Goldstein and Australian Human Rights Commissioner, who is of Armenian origin.
The delegation also includes Australian business leaders and members of the ANC-AU National Board and Office.
