SYDNEY: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) has capped off its most successful Advocacy Week to date by raising over $90,000 at its Annual Banquet, where NSW Transport Minister, the Hon. Gladys Berejiklian MP was handed the "Armenian-Australian Community's Friend of the Year" Award.
ANC Australia was joined by Giro Manoyan, International Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee, this year, and held a series of events in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne to mark the 2014 Advocacy Week.
Advocacy Week included two intensive days in Canberra meeting with Federal Members of Parliament to discuss a wide range of issues including recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the threat posed by ISIS to the Armenian and other minority communities in the Middle East, as well as other issues of importance to the Armenian-Australian community.
In addition to the largest number of meetings held to date, ANC Australia facilitated the book launch of “An Inconvenient Genocide: Who now remembers the Armenians?” written by leading human rights lawyer and former United Nations Judge, Geoffrey Robertson QC, which was held at the National Press Club in Canberra.
At the conclusion of the National Press Club event, John Alexander MP and the Parliamentary Friends of Armenia held an invitation only event at Parliament House, where Robertson presented his book to a large number of gathered guests (CLICK HERE FOR PRESS CLUB COVERAGE).
Robertson also held numerous interviews on the Armenian Genocide on leading Australian programs including, Lateline, The Drum and Sky News. He was also a panelist on ABC’s Q&A, where ANC Australia’s Executive Director, Vache Kahramanian, asked the panel on live TV why Australia should join in the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide (CLICK HERE FOR PRESS COVERAGE VIDEOS AND LINKS).
ANC Australia, in conjunction with the Armenian Youth Federation of Australia (Australia), held a Panel Discussion featuring Manoyan at the Stamford Grand Hotel in Sydney. Manoyan also held a Lecture in Melbourne (CLICK HERE FOR COVERAGE OF PANEL AND LECTURE).
ANC Australia capped of its most successful Advocacy Week to date by raising over $90,000 at its Annual Banquet. A spectacular showcase of achievements were put on display along with live entertainment by the Hamazkaine Armenian Sydney Dance Company. Manoyan was the keynote speaker at this event.
In his keynote address, Manoyan remarked: "To the Australian government, we say: it is time to stop outsourcing Armenian Genocide policy to Turkey, and – in the interest of regional stability and in defence of human rights – to support a truthful and just resolution of this crime."
He added: "Last but not least, this complicity in Turkey’s denial is a demoralising blow to those non-Armenian members of society in Turkey who, sometimes at great risks, recognise and commemorate the Armenian Genocide."
At the conclusion of the Banquet, Gladys Berejiklian was honoured for her years of tireless efforts supporting the Armenian-Australian community with the coveted "Armenian-Australian Community's Friend of the Year" Award.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ANC AUSTRALIA ANNUAL BANQUET PHOTO GALLERY ON FACEBOOK
