SYDNEY: The New South Wales Ecumenical Council, which comprises of sixteen churches in the state of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, has recognised the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides and called on the Commonwealth Government of Australia to do the same, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia.

At the NSW Ecumenical Council's quarterly executive meeting on the eve of the 105th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which saw 1.5 million Armenians and over 1 million Assyrian and Greeks killed during the dying days of the Ottoman Empire, participants unanimously adopted a statement with a special prayer service led by the organisation's President, Reverend Dr Ray Williamson.

The Council's Secretary General Father Shenouda Mansour was instrumental in ensuring the issue be given due priority, and proceedings included prayers by the heads of the three churches of the affected communities of descendants of survivors of the Genocides, including His Beatitude Archbishop Mar Meelis Zaia of the Assyrian Church of the East, His Eminence Archbishop Haigazoun Najarian of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand, and His Grace Bishop Emilianos representing His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) welcomed the recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides by the NSW Ecumenical Council.

"We thank the three communities' churches and the leadership of the New South Wales Ecumenical Council in adopting this statement recognising the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides," said ANC-AU Executive Director, Haig Kayserian.

"Significantly, it calls on the Commonwealth Government of Australia to recognise the 1915 Genocide, adding to growing momentum for the Cause."

"As well as the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the New South Wales Parliament, the South Australian Parliament, Ryde City, Willoughby City and Fairfield City Councils, we are witnessing an increasing number of influential organisations adding their voices to calls for Australia to stand on the side of truth and justice on this important issue of human rights."

Yesterday, ANC-AU announced that the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), which is the peak public affairs representative of the Jewish-Australian community, has joined the Australian Christian Lobby, the Uniting Church in Australia and the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies in calling for Australia's recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

The Australian Greens, Centre Alliance and the Katter Australia Party also back calls for Australia to recognise the Armenian Genocide.

The full Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides Commemorative Statement adopted by the NSW Ecumenical Council is below.