SYDNEY: The peak representative body of the Australian Jewish community, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) has condemned Azerbaijan and Turkey for their joint attacks on the Armenian Republic of Artsakh “with the declared aim of destroying Artsakh as an independent State”, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).
In a statement sent to the ANC-AU, and posted on their website, the ECAJ provided an accurate history over the dispute for Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) and summary of the situation on the ground in the Artsakh.
“Artsakh is populated mainly by highland people of ethnic Armenian background. Armenian culture and the Armenian Apostolic Church are central to the country’s long and rich history,” the statement read.
“Following an overwhelming vote by its people in 1991, Artsakh declared its independence. At the time it achieved independence, the right of Artsakh to exist as a State was violently contested by way of a military attack upon it by neighbouring Azerbaijan. Artsakh won its fight for independence and has been a stable and successful democratic State ever since.”
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“Now, for a second time, Azerbaijan has initiated military force, with the backing of Turkey’s Erdogan government, with the declared aim of destroying Artsakh as an independent State… The ECAJ deplores the state-sanctioned incitement of racial and religious hatred wherever and whenever it occurs. Many civilians have already been killed, and the UN has so far failed to halt the fighting.”
The statement continued by condemning the goals of Azerbaijan to “divide up the spoils of conquest among Azerbaijanis once Artsakh is militarily defeated and occupied, with the consequent threat to the existing local population”, before calling out Turkey’s involvement.
“Given the history of Ottoman Turkey’s systematic mass murder and expulsion of 1.5 million ethnic Armenians during the Armenian genocide between 1914 and 1923, this latest move by the Erdogan government of Turkey against the same ethnic group is especially concerning,” the statement read.
With an as-yet inadequate response by Australia and many in the international community to condemn these attacks, including the Israeli government’s arms sales to the aggressors in Baku, the ECAJ’s call on “all countries” has been welcomed by the peak public affairs representative of the Armenian-Australian community.
The ECAJ statement said: “We call on all governments to do everything in their power to discourage the latest military assault upon Artsakh, and to raise their voices and demand an immediate halt to it. We express our solidarity with our friends and colleagues in the Armenian community in Australia. Many Australian Armenians have family in the region and are understandably distressed by recent events.”
Haig Kayserian, who is the Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia, welcomed the statement by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
“We have a warm and long-standing relationship of cooperation with Jewish-Australian leadership,” Kayserian said. “To have the support of co-CEO Mr. Peter Wertheim and his Executive Council of Australian Jewry colleagues at a time when Armenians are facing what is an existential threat on their own homeland is greatly appreciated.”
“We have been discussing a number of matters with the ECAJ about the situation on the ground, and this statement is part of a number of meaningful actions they have taken to assist in addressing Armenian-Australian concerns, for which our community is sincerely grateful,” Kayserian added.
Armenian National Committee of Australia