In an unprecedented development, seven Federal Members rose in the House of Representatives on November 21, 22 and 23 to affirm the historical reality of the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian Genocides and call for Australian recognition of these crimes against humanity, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia).

MPs Craig Kelly, Malcolm Turnbull, Michael Danby and Joel Fitzgibbon – new supporters of this fundamental issue of humanity – added their voices to long-time friends of the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian communities in MPs John Alexander, Joe Hockey and Paul Fletcher and paid tribute to the victims of the first genocide of the 20th century, armenia.com.au website reports.

“The Armenian Genocide and the related Assyrian and Greek Genocides were the result of a deliberate and systematic campaign against the Christian minorities of the Ottoman Empire between 1914 and 1923,” Kelly said.

He stressed importance for Australia to recognize this crime against humanity.

“It is now time for our parliament to join other parliaments around the world and recognize these genocides for what they were,” Kelly stated.

In his turn, Joe Hockey emphasized the strong connections between Australian history and the genocide that began in 1915 during an adjournment speech on November 21.

“Our country has a strong association with the events beginning in 1915. The Ottomans began their genocide of the Armenian people on 24 April 1915 - the day before the first Australian soldiers landed at Anzac Cove -and many Australian soldiers witnessed the tragic events the Armenian race suffered at the hands of the Ottomans,” he said.