050414 - RYDE COMMEMORATES 90th ANNIVERSARY ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Ryde City Council is located in the Federal electorate of Bennelong, which is represented by the Prime Minister, Mr John Howard.
MEDIA RELEASE: For immediate release: Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Ryde City Council unanimously passes Motion marking
90th Anniversary of Armenian Genocide
RYDE COMMEMORATES 90th ANNIVERSARY ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
For the first time, an Australian Council yesterday officially recognised the Armenian Genocide of 1915, and called on the Commonwealth Government to do the same, Independent Ryde City Councillor, Sarkis Yedelian announced today.

In 1915, the first genocide of the twentieth century took place, which led to the annihilation of 1.5 million men, women and children.

"As the first Australian Councillor of Armenian ancestry, and a son of survivor of the Armenian Genocide, I feel honoured to have moved this motion,” Clr Yedelian said.

“The motion ensures that crimes committed in the past are never forgotten, and that we do all we can to prevent similar crimes against humanity.

“It is fitting that Ryde Council has added its name to the growing list of national, state and municipal bodies that have reaffirmed the Armenian genocide worldwide.

Councils in Canada, France, Italy, and the United States have also passed motions on the Armenian genocide ( http://www.armenian-genocide.org/current_category.2/affirmation_list.html ).



In 1997, the NSW Parliament formally recognised the Armenian genocide and in the following year passed a motion to erect a memorial in the NSW Parliamentary precinct in memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide.

Yesterday evening Ryde City Council unanimously passed the following motion:

That this Council:

(1) acknowledges this year as marking the occasion of the 90th anniversary commemoration of the Genocide of the Armenians perpetrated by the then Ottoman Government between the years 1915-1922;

(2) joins with the Armenian community of Ryde in honouring the memory of the 1.5 million men, women and children who died in the first genocide of the twentieth century;

(3) recognises 24 April every year as a day of remembrance of the Armenian genocide;

(4) condemns the genocide of the Armenians and all other acts of genocide committed as the ultimate act of racial, religious and cultural intolerance;

(5) calls on the Commonwealth Government to officially condemn:

(i) the genocide of the Armenians

(ii) any attempt to deny such crimes against humanity.

The motion was passed in the presence of the Armenian Australian community, including His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The motion was seconded by Clr Ivan Petch. Mayor Perram and Clr Campbell also spoke in favour of the motion.

According to the 2001 Census, 94,478 people live in Ryde City Council located in Sydney’s north-west, and has the largest concentration of Armenian community anywhere in Sydney.
Ryde in Australia Recognizes Sarkis Yedelian, Independent Councillor, City of Ryde P.O. Box 631 GLADESVILLE NSW 2111, Ph:(02) 9879 4159 BH, Mob. 0412 048 330 Sarkis_Yedelian@yahoo.com.au Clr. Yedelian's photo can be downloaded from http://armtv.tripod.com or send in an email with a request of needed resolution)

V.V