Australia’s former Defense Minister and current Shadow Minister for Agriculture & Resources, Member of Parliament Joel Fitzgibbon said he supports backing for national recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian, and Greek genocides, causes that have infuriated Turkey.

He signed an affirmation put forward by the Armenian-Australian, Assyrian-Australian, and Greek-Australian communities, the Armenian-American bilingual newspaper Asbarez reported.

Fitzgibbon, the paper said has long been a committed and vocal supporter on this cause, speaking in Parliament and seconding an historic 2018 motion recognizing Australia’s first major international humanitarian relief effort, which was in aid of orphans and survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

“Armenian-Australians, Assyrian-Australians and Greek-Australians are grateful for Mr. Fitzgibbon and his growing list of colleagues urging Australia joins the correct side of history on this important issue of human rights,” said Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) Executive Director Haig Kayserian.

Turkey has refuted any genocides were conducted and threatened countries and governments which tried to adopt measures pointing out the atrocities.

Turkey’s Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian communities disappeared through genocides beginning in 1894 by their Muslim neighbors. By 1924, the Christian communities of Turkey and adjacent territories were destroyed.