“It is an undeniable fact that over 750,000 Christian Assyrians lost their lives in this genocide. The depopulation of Greek, Assyrians and the Armenians was part of parcel of Turkey's policy of eliminating the Christian minorities. Efforts to encourage Turkey to face this historical reality will help move forward the process of democratization in that nation. It will as well, help to guarantee that Turkey understands its contemporary obligations to protect both the human and collective community rights of its minority populations and to prevent any future genocide,” said the regional Secretary of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) Hermiz Shahen in his interview with SBS Radio, Assyria Times reports.

Shahen offered to put up a monument dedicated to the victims of the Assyrian Genocide in Sydney suburb of Fairfield.

However, Turkish consul general in Sydney, Renan Sekeroglu denied that the massacres were perpetrated against Assyrians in Ottoman Empire. He added that the memorial might damage Australian-Turkish relations. As to cities’ authorities, they intend to weigh the pros and cons and make appropriate decision.

A.G.