World-renowned musician and composer Serj Tankian has called out New Zealand FM Winston Peters’ reported appeasement of denialist Turkey at the Armenian National Committee of New Zealand’s Advocacy Week, Asbarez reported. 

The FM, who also serves as the country’s Deputy PM, released a letter to MPs reiterating New Zealand’s position on the Armenian Genocide, which was defining it as a “tragedy” rather than “genocide.” The leaked text shows Peters asked the MPs to consider this government position when “deciding whether to take up the invitation” from ANC-NZ to an event co-hosted by Green Party Member of Parliament Gareth Hughes.

Meanwhile, at the event, Tankian – who is a New Zealand resident and the Grammy Award-winning frontman of System of a Down – spoke about how being the grandchild of Armenian Genocide survivors shaped his life and his career.

“There are dances around the word genocide, because Turkey does not want nations to use that word,” Tankian told New Zealand’s Newshub.

Members of ANC-NZ, flanked by members of the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) and distinguished academics were present at the event, informing about the Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek genocides, and the importance of achieving justice for such crimes against humanity.

ANC-NZ Chairperson, Hoory Yeldizian was delighted with the results.

“We were able to bring the issue of Armenian Genocide justice, and New Zealand’s incorrect positioning on the issue, to the epicenter of the nation’s politics thanks to our advocacy,” Yeldizian said.

ANC-AU Executive Director Haig Kayserian reserved special praise for Tankian.

“Serj Tankian is a titan in the defense of the Armenian Cause – always ready to lend his talent, his art, and his platform to deliver on a promise he made to his grandfather before he passed, that he would do his utmost to bring justice for the Armenian Genocide,” Kayserian said. “His grandfather was a survivor of said genocide, as were his three other grandparents.”