John Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to support the words that my friend and colleague the member for North Sydney delivered earlier this week in recognition of the 25th anniversary of independence for the modern Republic of Armenia. This event was celebrated across my electorate of Bennelong, which proudly boasts the largest community of Armenian-Australians in the country.

On 21 September 1991, the Republic of Armenia was formed following 99.5 per cent of the population voting for independence from the former Soviet Union. Within four months, Australia had recognised the new republic and established diplomatic relations. We must also acknowledge the 25th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, which declared independence from Azerbaijan on 2 September 1991, following decades of oppression.

Of course, Armenia's history stretches back significantly further. Just last Saturday the capital Yerevan celebrated its 2,798th anniversary since it was founded in 782 BC. It is unfortunate that this rich and long history has been diminished by episodes of persecution and oppression, including the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians by the former Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923 and recent military actions by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh. Despite these dark chapters, the Armenian people, and their cousins in Bennelong, continue to display their vibrant culture. (Time expired)