Australian Greens recognize Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

Cross-bench political power, The Australian Greens, have added the recognition of the right to self-determination of the Armenians of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) to their party policy platform, following meetings between their candidate in the upcoming Bennelong by-election, Justin Alick and representatives of the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).

The Australian Greens, who also reiterated their party's recognition of the Armenian Genocide, have become one of the first non-Armenian political parties in the world to adopt what ANC-AU called a "principled position" on the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), the Armenian  National Committe of Australia reports.

The Australian Greens' party position also includes a call "on the Commonwealth Government to officially recognise the independence of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh [Artsakh] and strengthen Australia's relationship with Nagorno-Karabakh and its citizens."

ANC-AU Managing Director, Vache Kahramanian said: "We sincerely thank the The Australian Greens hierarchy and their Bennelong by-election candidate Justin Alick for proving their belief in the principles of self-determination by formally recognizing the Republic of Artsakh."

"Nagorno-Karabakh has been part of the greater Armenian motherland for millennia, and the continued threat of the war-mongering, corrupt dictatorship governing Azerbaijan means the world must take notice and speak out for the human right to self-determination of the Armenian citizens of the region, who have voted overwhelmingly in a referendum declaring independence."

Kahramanian added: "The Australian Greens have taken notice and they have spoken out, and for this, we are grateful."

The Republic of Artsakh's Permanent Representative in Australia, Kaylar Michaelian added praise on behalf of the government he represents.

"This is a truly historic recognition," said Michaelian. "The people of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) have lived under constant security threat for 26 years, however their resilience during that time has allowed them to build a democratic nation, which only waits for the world to recognise it and its citizens in order to thrive."

"On behalf of the government of the Republic of Artsakh and the people of Artsakh, I thank The Australian Greens for their commitment to human rights," Michaelian added.

In the current Federal Parliament, The Australian Greens are represented by nine Senators in the Upper House and one Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives.