SYDNEY: Recipient of the ANC Australia Friend of the Year Award and NSW Member for the electorate of Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea pledged to continue to unequivocally support Armenian-Australian issues during a recent meeting with the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia).
O’Dea, who only took over as Member for Davidson in 2007, demonstrated his eagerness to present the concerns of Armenian-Australians when; in 2008 he addressed the Lower House regarding the Armenian Genocide, and in 2010 he raised the matter of Nagorno Karabakh independence in the State Parliament.
At the meeting, O’Dea remarked: "Having attended the ANC Australia Annual Banquet each year since my election to parliament, I have become increasingly aware of the importance of universal recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the people’s right to self determination in Nagorno Karabakh."
"Should I be re-elected at the upcoming election to represent the people of Davidson, I shall continue to work with ANC Australia to raise awareness of the issues that remain important to the Armenian-Australian community."
ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian thanked O’Dea for his principled position.
He said: "Mr. O’Dea clearly demonstrated his support for Nagorno Karabakh’s right to self determination when he became the first politician to discuss Nagorno Karabakh Independence in an Australian Parliament."
"The Armenian-Australian families in Davidson have in Mr. O’Dea a representative whose stance on Nagorno Karabakh and the Armenian Genocide is reflective of their concerns."
