Turkish Ambassador in Australia attacks Koutsantonis MP for proposing 19 May as Greek Genocide Remembrance Day

With a new letter addressed to members of the SA Parliament and signed by the Turkish Ambassador in Australia, Korhan Karakoc, the Turkish Government has urged South Australia’s state government to reject Tom Koutsantonis’ motion to recognise 19 May as the official Greek Genocide Remembrance Day.

The letter comes a week after the Executive Secretary of the Australian Turkish Advocacy Alliance Baris Atayman expressed ‘his disbelief’ following Koutsantonis’ proposed motion for the State Government to recognise 19 May as the official day of remembrance of the Greek genocide which he described as a ‘personal ethnic bias and a political manoeuvre.’

“This initiative, as a grave distortion of historical facts, is a bombshell that will introduce severe impacts on the social harmony in South Australia currently enjoyed by the Turkish and the greater Muslim community,” states the Turkish Ambassador’s letter.

The Greek Australian MP vows he will continue to fight for justice. “The Turkish Government is attempting to have me silenced once again by desperately urging Members of the SA Parliament not to support my calls for the millions of murdered victims of this genocide, but history cannot be re-written. I will not stop fighting for what’s right,” Mr Koutsantonis told Neos Kosmos encouraging his supporters and other members of the Greek Australian community to get in contact with their local MP’s and ask them to support this motion.

Full support from the Greek Australian community

Mr Koutsantonis, who posted Mr Karakoc’s letter, sent to his parliamentary colleagues on his social media accounts, appears to have the support of Greek Australians in SA and interstate.

“The truth hurts. Keep up the good work Tom,” wrote one user.

“You have our full support on this issue. For the memories of the poor people who were slaughtered for no reason other than their faith. You cannot undo history, you can however acknowledge it, apologise and most importantly learn from these atrocities,” wrote another.

“Keep up the fight Tom. We stand united until they apologise. We will never forget the truth.”