STATEMENT

SYDNEY: Earlier today, the Armenian National Committee of Australia released a statement unequivocally condemning the vandalism attack on the Auburn Mosque by a person who some were alleging to be of Armenian background.

We have since confirmed with authorities that the gentleman who committed this crime is not of Armenian heritage, with public confirmation also coming from his own family.

Our condemnation stands regardless of the culprit's ethnicity or faith.

As egregious as the current attempted ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Armenians of the Republic of Artsakh by Azerbaijan and Turkey, there can be no justification for such vandalism or any attack or violation of the law, whoever the culprit.

The Armenian-Australian community has no issue with our fellow Australians of Turkish or Azerbaijani background. Our dispute is with the governments of Azerbaijan and Turkey for their military aggression and attempted ethnic cleansing.