SYDNEY: Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia) Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian delivered the presentation ‘Israel and Recognition of the Armenian Genocide’ at the Jewish Education Festival Limmud-Oz on Sunday in front of an audience comprised of academics, students and members of the Jewish-Australian community.

Addressing those gathered at the University of NSW (UNSW), Meguerditchian described the Israeli government’s changing position on the Armenian Genocide explaining that Israel had progressed from a position of outright denial to now having the recognition of the Armenian Genocide placed on the agenda of the parliament’s education committee.

“The Israeli government today has more motivation than ever before to formally recognise the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide,” he said.

“Amongst the motivators for change in Israel is the broad-based support Armenian Genocide recognition has received from prominent Israeli academics as well as the growing rift in the Turkish-Israeli political relationship.”

Following the presentation, Meguerditchian fielded questions regarding advocacy efforts aimed at Armenian Genocide recognition in Israel and Australia, received pledges of support from the interested listeners as well as an invitation to return next year.

The presentation was part of ANC Australia’s Research & Education Program, which was developed five years ago to build awareness of the Armenian Genocide amongst the Australian public. In recent times, the Program has registered a number of considerably important successes.

In December, March, April and May, Meguerditchian delivered 16 separate presentations at the Sydney Jewish Holocaust Museum about the Armenian Genocide which were attended by a collective audience of more than 1,000 NSW history students from schools including: Homebush Boys High, Homebush Girls High, St Pauls, Masada College, Emmanuel School, Strathfield Boys High, Strathfield Girls High, All Saints Greek Orthodox College, Australian Islamic College of Sydney, Iqra College, Moriah College and Quibla College.

ANC Australia’s Research and Education Program, which covers a broad range of initiatives, also includes the development of resource material for students studying genocide and the funding  of research in the field of genocide and human rights.