CANBERRA: Armenian National Committee of Australia’s (ANC Australia) largest ever Advocacy Week kicked off in Canberra on Sunday, 20 November with a seminar, ‘Advocacy in a New Era’, that brought together representatives of the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian communities of Australia.

The seminar participants will be raising awareness of the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Genocides during meetings with Federal Members and Senators in the nation’s capital on Monday and Tuesday.

The combined delegation of over 20 representatives includes Chairman of the ANC World Council and international guest of honour for Advocacy Week 2011, Hagop Der Khatchadourian, members of the ANC Australia National Board, ANC Australia Western Sydney, ANC Australia Melbourne, the Armenian Youth Federation, the Assyrian Universal Alliance and the Australian Hellenic Council.

The seminar featured four presentations on issues related to the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Genocides and advocacy efforts today. Der Khatchadourian spoke about the international advocacy efforts of the three nations and the milestones achieved in raising awareness of this fundamental human rights issue globally.

Dr Panayiotis Diamadis, Director of the Australian Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, focused on the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Genocides as events embedded in Australian history. 

He talked about ANZAC eyewitness accounts and Australian media coverage of these events, as well as the large scale humanitarian relief effort carried out by Australians in the 1920s to help the survivors.

Haig Kayserian, Communications Director at ANC Australia, delivered a presentation on utilising the internet and social media to raise awareness and advocate for Australian - as well as international - recognition of the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Genocides.

Varant Meguerditchian, Executive Director of ANC Australia, presented an overview of Armenian, Greek and Assyrian advocacy efforts in Australia.

“Today’s seminar was a good opportunity for an open discussion and exchange of ideas before we launch into our most concentrated advocacy efforts of the year during Advocacy Week 2011,” said Meguerditchian. 

“With this strong delegation of our three communities, we are confident that we will be able to muster significant support for Australian recognition of the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Genocides in Canberra.”

Der Khatchadourian welcomed the collaborative advocacy efforts of the three communities. 

“Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians have shared the pain and injustice of the first genocide of the 20th century. Collaboration in such a coordinated manner between our communities allows us to raise our voice higher in the pursuit of justice both in Australia and across the world,” he said.

George Vellis, NSW Coordinator of the Australian Hellenic Council, spoke about the importance of genocide recognition for the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian communities. 

“Recognition of these genocides is particularly important in the healing process for the estimated 900,000 Australians of Armenian, Greek and Assyrian descent.” 

Hermiz Shahen, Secretary of the Assyrian Universal Alliance, highlighted the importance of forming a united front in the pursuit of Australian recognition for the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Genocides.

“Our communities have shared this painful and unfortunate chapter of history together and together we must work to ensure that Australia officially recognises this crime against humanity to which Australian soldiers lay witness during World War I,” he said. 

In addition to the campaign in Canberra, Advocacy Week 2011 is packed with several engaging community activities, including a Q&A with Hagop Der Khatchadourian in Sydney’s West on Wednesday, November 23; the ANC Australia Annual Banquet at the Willoughby Concourse Reception Centre on Friday, November 25; as well as the most high profile event on the Armenian Australian social calendar, Armenian Family Day at Ryde No. 1 Oval on Sunday, November 27.