MELBOURNE: Representatives of various Australian political parties and near 100 members of the Melbourne Armenian community joined the Armenian National Committee of Australia Melbourne (ANC Australia Melbourne) at the Commemoration of the Sumgait Massacre on Sunday 26th February 2012 in the hall of the Melbourne Armenian Community Centre.

The commemoration, which marked the 24th anniversary of the tragic massacre, started with a moment of silence in honour of the victims of the Sumgait Massacre and a message by ANC Australia Melbourne Representative Hovig Melkonian.

“We are here today to commemorate the Sumgait Massacre which became a catalyst for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to seek their independence,” said Melkonian.

“The events in Sumgait during the winter of 1988 demonstrated to Armenians the world over that they could never be safe under any form of Azeri rule.”

ANC Australia Executive Director Varant Meguerditchian, who in 2010 met with Republic of Nagorno Karabakh President Bako Sahakyan, delivered the keynote address.

In an illustrated presentation entitled ‘Nagorno Karabakh Advocacy in Australia’, Meguerditchian said: “Azerbaijan is continually threatening to attack the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh.”

“In light of this, we must double our efforts to ensure that we gain support amongst our elected representatives for the right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh to determine their own political and economic future.”

During the evening, excerpts from the film ‘Karabakh’s Wounds’ were screened to remind the community of the immense sacrifices undertaken by the people of Karabakh to in their fight for self-rule.

A Sumgait Massacre commemorative evening will also be held at the Armenian Cultural Centre in Sydney on Friday 16th March 2012 with a presentation by The Honourable Walt Secord NSW MLC.