The peak advocacy bodies of Australia's Armenian, Assyrian and Greek communities, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch the “Joint Justice Initiative”.
Around 100 Federal Australian parliamentarians, diplomats, departmental officials, political staffers, academics, media and community leaders, attended the cocktail event which took place at the Australian Parliament House's Mural Hall on Tuesday 25th February.
The Joint Justice Initiative’s Memorandum of Understanding stipulates that the Armenian National Committee of Australia, the Assyrian Universal Alliance – Australia Chapter and the Australian Hellenic Council “shall continue and expand their co-operation and joint advocacy for the international affirmation and justice for the Genocides of the indigenous Armenian, Assyrian and Greek populations of the Ottoman Empire perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish government”.
The document also confirms the communities participating in the Joint Justice Initiative “shall jointly advocate against any attempt by the Turkish Government to use the sacred ANZAC graves in Gallipoli (and access by Australians to those graves and memorials) as ‘hostages’ or bargaining chips in coercing or persuading the Australian Government in being complicit in the Turkish State’s denial campaign with respect to the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides”.
As well as the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, attendees were treated to cultural performances, food, wine and brandy.
Source: Panarmenian
