Following the recent publication of Neos Kosmos‘s article, ‘Hope for Justice: Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian Genocides – a Chance for Historic Recognition in Victoria‘, two prominent community organisations have submitted letters backing a proposed motion in the Victorian parliament to formally recognise the genocides committed against Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians during World War I.
The motion, expected to be introduced by Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam, has sparked significant advocacy from affected communities, urging political figures to support the recognition.
The article outlined the widespread historical evidence of over two million Christian victims in the Ottoman Empire’s genocides from 1915 to 1923, while also noting opposition from Turkish-Australian advocates and some political figures.
Community leaders, however, stress that this recognition is critical to acknowledge the atrocities and ensure that such horrors are never repeated.
Greek, Armenian, and Assyrian groups have called on the public to pressure the government and opposition into passing the motion.
In response, the Australian Federation of Pontian Associations and the Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria have forwarded letters to Neos Kosmos addressed to Victorian leaders, urging them to support the genocide recognition motion.
In its letter, the Australian Federation of Pontian Associations highlighted the importance of Victoria joining other Australian states such as New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania in recognising the genocides.
The federation stressed the deep connection many Victorians, particularly Greek Australians, have with this historical trauma.
With over 200,000 Greek Australians living in Victoria, the federation stated that the community will closely watch how their elected representatives vote on this matter of justice and historical truth.
Similarly, the Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria called on Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan as well as Leader of the Opposition John Pesutto to support the motion. The letter was forwarded to MPs Steve Dimopoulos, Nick Staikos, Lee Tarlamis, Jaclyn Symes, Lizzie Blandthorn, Ben Carroll, Matt Phellan and Kat Theophanous.
President Theo Theophanous argued that the issue transcends party politics, reminding the Premier of her leadership on recognising past wrongs committed against Indigenous Australians.
Theophanous urged the Premier to take a principled stance, noting that recognising the genocides of Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians would help address ancestral trauma within these communities and foster reconciliation.
All three letters stress the importance of the upcoming parliamentary vote, which has gained the attention of Greek, Armenian, and Assyrian communities across the state pushing towards a motion to mark a significant step toward justice and recognition for the descendants of survivors.
Read the letters below:
The Australian Federation of Pontian Associations call on Victorian parliament to Support Recognition of the Assyrian, Armenian and Greek Genocide
Dear Honourable Member of Parliament,
We contact you on behalf of the Australian Federation of Pontian Associations, a national body representing Greek Pontian Associations Australia Wide.
We write to you to signal our strong support for the upcoming motion in the Victorian Parliament recognising the Greek, Armenian, and Assyrian, genocides.
This matter is of extreme relevance to Victorians.
It is crucial that Victoria joins other states such as New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania, and countries like Greece, France, and Sweden, which have recognised these historical atrocities.
These genocides, which took place between 1915 and 1923, are commemorated annually by each community Armenians on April 24, Assyrians on August 7, and Greeks on May 19. The tabling of this motion comes as we approach the 110th anniversary of these horrific events. It is time that Victoria stands alongside other state jurisdictions of Australia and the world in recognising these genocides and the profound impact they continue to have on the descendants of survivors.
Victoria is home to over 200,000 Greek Australians who will be closely watching how their elected representatives vote on this important issue. Many of our community members carry the stories of those who survived, and it is vital that this history is acknowledged.
We call on you to support the tabling of this motion in your party room and to vote in favour of it when it reaches the Legislative Council. This is a matter of historical truth, justice, and dignity for all those who suffered and perished.
Our Association members are direct decendents of the survivors or the genocide. We represent over 10,000 associated Victorian family members and over 20,000 Families Nationally.
CENTRAL PONTIAN ASSOCIATION OF MELBOURNE & VICTORIA “PONTIAKI ESTIA”
PONTIAKH ESTIA
PONTIAN COMMUNITY OF MELBOURNE
PONTIAKH KOINOTHTA
THE PONTIAN ASSOCIATION OF MELBOURNE “EUXENOS PONTOS” INC
EUXEINOS PONTOS
PANAGIA SOUMELA PONTIAN ASSOCIATION OF WHITTLESEA
PANAGIA SOUMELA
PONTIAN BROTHERHOOD OF HOBART
PONTIAKH ADELFOTHTA TASMANIA
PONTIAN BROTHERHOOD ST GEORGE OF W.A
PONTIAKH ADELFOTHTA AGIOS GEWRGIOS DUTIKH AUSTRALIA
Kind Regards
Harry Navrozidis, President
Litsa Athanasiadis, Acting Secretary
Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria Supports Recognition of 1915-1923 Greek, Assyrian and Armenian Genocides
To Premier of Victoria, Hon Jacinta Allan,
Dear Premier,
I write to you as the President of the Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria and as a Labor Party elder.
I understand that the Greens Political Party intends moving a motion in the Victorian Legislative Council to recognise the 1915-1923 Greek, Assyrian and Armenian Genocides.
Whilst I, and the Community I represent, and indeed the broader Greek Community, would have preferred if the motion was moved by the Labor Party, it is our view that the issue goes beyond parties and should be supported as a matter of principle. It would be disastrous for the Labor Party in electoral terms were it to oppose this motion. This would be wrong on principle and would run counter to the views of the vast majority of Labor members.
I therefore write on behalf of 60,000 Greek Cypriot Australians living in Victoria, to emphasize my community’s strong and unequivocal support for the proposed motion.
Sometimes in politics tough choices must be made and I have been impressed at the choices you have already made as Premier based on principle. You have led the movement to recognise past wrongs committed against the indigenous community including apologies for these injustices. This has helped in addressing intergenerational trauma of our indigenous communities. The proposed recognition of these genocides will address such ancestral trauma in Victoria’s Greek, Armenian and Assyrian communities.
The historical facts are accepted and well documented by respected academics and historians. They show that 3 million mainly Christians of Greek, Armenian and Assyrian ethnicities were the victims of these genocides.
It is not only these community members that support the recognition of these genocides it also includes Christian denominations from across the State including the World Council of Churches and other Christian denominations that have written to you.
The established facts surrounding the genocides have also led to 34 nations around the world recognising them including, the US, France, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Greece, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden. Many states within these nations have also recognised the genocides.
Many thousands of Victorians will congratulate you if Victoria becomes the next state to recognise the 1915-1923 genocides in their Parliament following New South Wales (1997), South Australia (2009) and Tasmania (2023). The Liberal Party has stated that they will support the motion if the Labor Party does.
The motion should be supported as a matter of principle, and not on the basis of whether the other party supports it. We therefore urge you to support it on the basis of principle and should you do so it would be widely acknowledged in our communities.
Acknowledging the Greek, Armenian and Assyrian genocides of 1915–1923 is not anti-Turkish as some claim. It is a necessary foundation for reconciliation between peoples by bringing the affected communities together to share their stories of suffering and move toward a future of understanding as we have done with our indigenous communities.
The debate and vote on this motion will be a defining moment for those who have been waiting for recognition and justice, and the way members vote will not go unnoticed.
I hope you will support the motion which is above party politics, and I stand ready along with other representatives of the Greek Community to meet with you to discuss it.
Yours sincerely,
Hon Theo Theophanous
President of Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria
