Armenian National Committee of Australia urges Albanese to raise genocide reco

SYDNEY — The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to address Turkey’s record on genocide denial, human rights violations, and regional conflicts following his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the sidelines of the COP31 climate summit in Antalya.

In a letter published on 12 November, the organization expressed concern that Australia’s efforts to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations with Turkey could overshadow longstanding questions of accountability for historical atrocities and more recent violations of international law.

The ANC-AU called on the Australian Government to clarify whether these issues were raised during the leaders’ 11 November meeting and whether Canberra intends to address them in its broader relationship with Ankara.

The meeting took place as Australia and Turkey assumed prominent roles in hosting the international climate negotiations. Albanese travelled to Antalya for the COP31 World Leaders’ Summit, with his government highlighting the importance of cooperation with Turkey on climate action, trade and regional stability.

According to the Turkish Presidency, Erdoğan and Albanese discussed bilateral relations and regional and international developments. Reporting by Anadolu Agency also indicated that Erdoğan emphasized opportunities to expand trade and cooperation between the two countries.

Diplomatic engagement should not come at the expense of Australia’s stated commitment to human rights and the international rules-based order, argued the ANC-AU. Its correspondence identified three principal areas of concern: 1) the Armenian, Sayfo, and Greek Genocides, 2) Turkey’s continued military presence in northern Cyprus, and 3) its support for Azerbaijan during the 2020 Artsakh War.

The organization said the Ottoman-era genocides claimed the lives of more than 2.5 million Armenians, Suroye (Syriacs–Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans), and Greeks combined. It also noted that Armenian-Australians have campaigned for more than five decades for formal Australian legislative recognition of the three genocides, but successive federal governments have yet to fulfil that request.

The ANC-AU further emphasized that the history of the genocides is closely connected to Australia’s own humanitarian legacy. During and after the First World War, Australian relief efforts assisted survivors of the Ottoman Empire’s persecution and mass killings, forming part of the country’s early international humanitarian engagement.

Despite extensive historical scholarship and recognition by numerous governments and legislatures internationally, Turkey continues to reject the characterization of the mass killings as genocide. The issue remains a significant source of tension in Turkey’s relations with Armenian communities and organizations around the world.

The letter also addressed Turkey’s military presence in northern Cyprus, which dates back to the Turkish military intervention in 1974. The ANC-AU cited United Nations Security Council Resolution 541, adopted in 1983, and Resolution 550, adopted in 1984.

The resolutions declared the purported independence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus legally invalid and called on UN member states not to recognize the entity. Resolution 550 also reaffirmed the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus. The northern part of the island remains outside the effective control of the internationally recognized Cypriot government.

Another central concern raised by the ANC-AU was Turkey’s military and political support for Azerbaijan during the 2020 Artsakh War. The organization pointed to Ankara’s provision of military equipment and armed drones to Azerbaijani forces, as well as reports concerning the recruitment and deployment of Syrian fighters.

In November 2020, United Nations human rights experts expressed alarm over reports that Azerbaijan, with Turkey’s assistance, had relied on Syrian fighters to reinforce its military operations in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. The experts called for the withdrawal of mercenaries and warned about the consequences of their involvement for civilians.

The UN experts’ statement highlighted the reported recruitment of fighters and the limited prospects for accountability.

The ANC-AU argued that Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan preceded the September 2023 military offensive against Artsakh. Following the operation, more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians fled to Armenia, effectively bringing an end to the centuries-old Armenian presence in the territory. The United Nations refugee response documented the mass displacement, with Armenian authorities reporting that 100,437 people had arrived by 30 September 2023.

Beyond its letter to Albanese, the ANC-AU also contacted Australian representatives attending COP31, including Nicolette Boele, the federal Member for Bradfield and a member of Australian Friends of Artsakh, and Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen.

The organization acknowledged the importance of international cooperation on climate change but urged both representatives to use their presence in Turkey to raise concerns about genocide denial, the displacement of Armenians from Artsakh, and Turkey’s broader human rights record.

The intervention comes amid renewed efforts by Armenian, Suroye, and Greek community organizations to secure federal recognition of the 1915 genocides. In June 2026, the New South Wales Legislative Assembly received a motion calling on the Commonwealth Government to formally recognize the three genocides. The motion, introduced by Mark Coure, also acknowledged the humanitarian assistance provided by Australian civilians and ANZAC personnel to survivors.

ANC-AU Political Affairs Director Sebastian Majarian said Australia’s diplomatic relationships should not prevent it from confronting historical and contemporary injustices.

“Australia cannot claim to champion human rights and the international rules-based order while turning a blind eye to the historical and ongoing injustices perpetrated by its diplomatic partners,” Majarian said.

He emphasized that the organization did not oppose diplomatic engagement with Turkey but believed such engagement should involve confronting difficult issues and demanding accountability.

“We urge Prime Minister Albanese and Australia’s representatives at COP31 to ensure that the pursuit of closer cooperation with Turkey does not come at the expense of justice for the Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek communities,” he added.

The ANC-AU has called on Albanese to clarify whether the three genocides, northern Cyprus and Artsakh were discussed during his meeting with Erdoğan, and to outline what diplomatic, economic or other measures Australia would consider to encourage accountability.

The organization is also urging the Prime Minister to reconsider Australia’s position on formal legislative recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides, arguing that stronger bilateral relations with Turkey should not preclude Australia from addressing longstanding questions of historical justice and international law.