MESSAGE
From Mr. Hermiz Shahen
Secretary of the
Assyrian Universal Alliance –Australia Chapter
His Grace Mar Meelis Zaia; Bishop of the Assyrian Church of the East
representatives of Assyrian organisations and media;
Ladies & Gentlemen,
On behalf of my colleagues in the Assyrian Universal Alliance-Australia Chapter, I welcome you
all to the 40th Anniversary of the Assyrian Universal Alliance. I hope that we spend this evening
together, marking this momentous occasion, filled with much joy and happiness.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our interstate guests. We thank them for blessing
us with their presence and for enduring the long trip from Melbourne to join us tonight.
Our sincere thanks and appreciation to our beloved Bishop His Grace Mar Meelis Zaia, not only
for accepting our invitation to attend tonight‟s function, but also for his continued support of all
Assyrian
organisations.
We further thank the many Assyrian organisations and prominent Assyrians for their support and
encouragement.
Tonight we mark the achievements of a great organisation. I take this opportunity to congratulate
all Assyrian people and organisations, particularly the Assyrian Church of the East, Assyrian
Australian National Federation and supporters of AUA for providing years of support to our
nationalistic movement that aims to unite the Assyrian community socially, politically and
academically.
My sincere appreciation and congratulations to all my colleagues in the Assyrian Universal
Alliance, past and present, on the 40th anniversary of your success and achievements. You have
all worked extremely hard and made extraordinary sacrifices through your devotion to the
continuing struggle for our national cause and improvement of our society in this blessed country
Australia. Working with all of you has been an absolute privilege, I want personally to thank you
for your wisdom and counsel, your friendship and everything you have done over the years and
will continue to do through this great organisation. May the Lord continue to bless you and your
families.
The Assyrian Universal Alliance will continue working to bring a unified leadership for our
nation to empower the Assyrians to fight for their rights. Without such a united agenda and an
empowered group, we believe we will not be able to influence those whom we‟re asking our
rights from.
We thank you again for sharing these precious moments with us and we hope you have an
enjoyable and memorable evening.
Home and History of the Assyrian Nation
The Assyrians are the indigenous people of Mesopotamia. They have a history spanning over
6700 years. They are the descendants of the ancient Assyrian Empire and one of the earliest
civilizations emerging in Mesopotamia. The heartland of Assyria lies in present-day Northern
Iraq and expands into modern-day Iraq; to Lake Urmia in Iran Eastward; to the Turkish Harran,
Edessa, Diarbakir, Lake Van and the mountains of Hakkari northward; and west to Syria.
Ancient history, even with its limited
discovery, to-date, is a testament to the
fact that Assyria, being one of the main
base roots of Mesopotamia, was the
fundamental basis for the development
of modern civilization. Assyrians were
sophisticated pioneers in the fields of
medicine, science, astronomy and
astrology; in mathematics, in music and
arts, literature, libraries and translation;
in law; in architecture; in agriculture
and irrigation, in developing and
improving systems of canals and
aqueducts;
in
economics
and
commerce;
in
government
administration and global expansion. Assyria accumulated wealth and knowledge, raised armies
in disciplined formation of infantry, cavalry and war-chariot troops with logistics; and built a
strong kingdom, a unique civilization and the first world empire. Thus Assyria, playing the
leading role in contributing knowledge, throughout the centuries, led the world to recognize
Mesopotamia as the cradle of civilization from which succeeding nations drew their sources and
increased their knowledge and expanded further, emulating Assyria for its unique civilization,
like the Persians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs.
After the collapse of the Assyrian Empire, in about 612 BC, the Assyrian remained in their
homeland. They continued to live in their abodes
albeit inconspicuously in order to maintain their
survival. However, after the crucifixion of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Assyrians were one of the first
nations to convert to Christianity. The first and
oldest Church, the Assyrian Church of the East, was
founded by the Apostle Thomas, with brethren in
Christ, Thaddeus and Bartholomew, in the Assyrian
City of Edessa. The Assyrians resurged, once again,
but this time as the most successful Christian
missionaries whose religious influence spanned to
Syria, China, Mongolia, Japan, Korea, India and the
Philippines.
Their religious work eventually extended to the field
of literature, philosophy, science and medicine. Without limiting the extent of the Assyrian
contribution, from the advent of adopting Christianity to the 14th century, allow me to mention
just few names as an example. The Assyrian philosopher Job of Edessa developed a physical
theory of the universe that rivaled Aristotle‟s theory. The Assyrians set up the first University of
Nisibis in the fourth century AD that became the centre of intellectual development in the Middle
East. The first Italian University used the Nisibis Statute as its model. In the sixth century AD,
the Assyrians established the great medical school of Gundeshapur. One family alone produced
nine generations of physicians. Hunayn Ibn-Ishaq‟s textbook on ophthalmology, written in 950
AD, remained in use as the authoritative source on the subject until 1800 AD.
However, by 1300 AD, with the recommencement of propagation of Islam, the Christian
Assyrians were compelled to either convert to the new religion of Islam or suffer persecution. An
annual poll tax was exacted on every Assyrian adult as a fine for refusing to convert to Islam. The
annual fee, called (jizyah), plus a heavy property tax was imposed to diminish their source of
income and expropriate their land. Islamic governments imposed restrictions on the Christian
traders, followed by an additional tax on travel and farm produce. They burdened them with these
hardships to humiliate and impoverish them. By heavy taxation, the income of the Assyrians was
reduced to the barest minimum. The Assyrians were forced out of business, lost their property
and became destitute. [FPIsaac, p55, IPUTROI]. Subsequently, the Assyrians were subjected
more violently to the Mongolian Timurlane destruction, causing many of the survivors to retreat
to their formidable Hakkari Mountains (which since Post WWI, have become part of the Republic
of Modern Turkey). This massive destruction levelled, first by the Islamic fundamentalists, and
then simultaneously by the Moslem Mongol Timurlane caused an otherwise vibrant, rich and
developed Assyrian culture to dwindle and suffer in number and in sprit.
THE ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE (AUA)
Brief History
The last century was critical and
decisive in relation to the modern
history of the Assyrian nation. After
WW I and II, the Assyrian nation was
betrayed.
Its
people
were
dispossessed and dispersed in the
Middle Eastern countries such as
Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey, and the
Lebanon. They were abandoned and
left at the mercy of their hostile
Islamic states.
During that period
the Assyrians were marginalized, and
lived in isolation of world attention
uncertain of their future. In each of
those countries, the Assyrians lived as good citizens, industrious
Mar Shimun Benjamin, killed by
Isma‟il-Agha Simko on March
and loyal to their respective government. Yet, because of their
16, 1918
indigenous ethnic background and indigenous Christian faith,
they fell victim to continued hostility at the hands of the Moslem
majority. The Assyrians are looked at with suspicion and as a potential enemy for just being
Christian.
This Kind of baseless judgment against the Assyrians left them exposed to hostility and unjust
reprisals. These actions not only stripped them of their economic means to earn a decent living,
but also endangered their very safety and existence as a people. They were literally reduced to
less than second-class citizens.
The July 1958 Revolution of Iraq overthrew the old Arab Royal Regime. It brought, in its place,
a new power, of a generation of fundamentalist of Pan Arab ideology. The new movement
revealed to be dangerous and a threat to the very existence of the Assyrian nation in its ancestral
homeland. The Arab Baathist Regime, after claiming power
in Iraq, denied the existence of people in Iraq under the
name of Assyrian. Denying the existence of the Assyrian
national identity resulted in the absence of the Assyrian
leadership. Termination of Assyrian leadership was plotted
through political assassination and exile. Arab leadership
forced the Assyrians to either embrace Pan-Arab
nationalism or face eviction from their historical Assyrian
land, towns and villages. The Assyrians, on the ground, and
in diaspora, strongly protested and opposed Iraq‟s cynical
plot that was being machinated in collusion with her
Baathist sister Syria. Iraq‟s ultimate aim was, and still is, to
deny the Assyrians the re-emergence of Assyria in their
ancestral homeland Assyria of Northern present-day Iraq.
This treacherous Iraqi scheme gave rise to great concern
among the Assyrian populace at large. It sparked a series
of protests within the Assyrian communities all around the
globe, exposing Iraq‟s heinous plot against the Assyrian
beneficiaries of their homeland, laying bare Arab‟s
treacherous plot.
In August 1966, the Assyrian Youth Cultural Society (A.Y.C.S.) in Iran, alarmed at the
antagonistic stance of Pan-Arab nationalism against the wellbeing of Assyria, conducted a
thorough study on Iraq‟s hostile stance against Assyria‟s aspirations. The result of the study was
sent, in the form of a report, to all the functioning Assyrian organizations, and to several
dignitaries and patriotic Assyrians around the world. The report asked the recipient to initiate a
system by which to protect the Assyrian Nation from further Arab manipulation. AYCA had
emphasized in the report the urgent need for leadership unity – a sort of an Assyrian universal
alliance, to stand united, to rescue the Assyrian entity from further harm.
Based on this plan, the Assyrian Universal Alliance (A.U.A.) was established, and the first
A.U.A. Congress was convened on April 13, 1968, in the Pou-France. Despite many obstacles
and impediments, A.U.A. has continued to work, pressing ahead towards reaching its ultimate
goal, namely, the re-emergence of a free, independent and sovereign Assyria. We are sure that
The Almighty God will help AUA continue in its mission in serving the Assyrian Nation for the
long years to come.
Some twenty Assyrian delegates attended this meeting the meeting at Pau. They were welcomed
by Louis Sallonavo, the Mayor of Pau, at l'Hotel de l'Europe where this momentous meeting took
place. One attendee, an old man who had served in the Assyrian army of Agha Petros and Malik
Ismail d'Malik Yacou, arrived at the town hall wearing an Assyrian tribal custom. Tears of joy
and the deafening sound of hand clapping were mercilessly but quickly shattering two thousand
years of silence. The French newspaper, Eclair-Pyrenees, wrote: "Their rights have to be
recognized and their sovereignty of the past restored, which can only be proclaimed by regaining
a territory." Professor Erhaud of the Strasbourg University said that this "nationality cannot be
saved except by constituting a sovereign nation." La Depeche Du Midi in a lengthy article on
Friday 12 April wrote "They are taking a great march toward a universal alliance and perhaps
toward a sovereign nation." La Republique noted that "They are small in number, but their
morale stands high among the Near Eastern Christians and their heroic determination is to
survive. They are proud to be called the true descendants of the Ancient Assyrians." Professor
Pierre Pomdot of the Institute of Political Sciences of Paris commented: "All the friends of the
Assyrian people, all those who believe in their cause and have faith in their prospect, joyfully
greet this realization which should be the first act in a magnificent renaissance."
The meeting was chaired by Demitri Elloff, a son of General Agha Petros. After four days of
meeting the following twenty points, poorly written but rich in their scope and vision, were
drafted in what later became known as the Report of the First World Congress:
1. There will no longer be a variety of names as previously called, Nestorians,
Chaldeans, Jacobites, Maronites etc. to divide the Assyrian people, but all factions will be
referred to as Assyrians.
2. There should be two officially recognized Assyrian languages: the Modern Assyrian
(Swadaya) and Literary Assyrian (Sapraya).
3. To establish an academy to construct a uniform alphabet to simplify the structure of
each Assyrian letter for the common use of all.
4. The protection of the right of our people to live with dignity and freedom as provided
for the United Nations "Charter of Human Rights", or any other proper channels.
5. Providing schools and scholarships for our youth in order to raise the standard of
education.
6. Through all known means of communication to introduce and expand the Assyrian
culture in the world.
7. April 1st shall be designated the "Assyrian National Day" throughout the world.
8. The establishment of 3 separate chapters, one in Asia, one in Europe, and one in the
United States of America, for the purpose of gathering all the vital information regarding
the needs of our people, for the
second meeting.
9. To arrange for a second meeting to be held in London as requested by the delegates
from Great Britain delegates.
10. The organization of a National Assyrian political body.
11. All these decisions to be presented to the affiliates and the people by their respective
representatives.
12. To request the Patriarchs of the various churches and denominations to come
together for the purpose of uniting the Assyrian people, also recommending that all
religious services and sermons to be conducted only in the Assyrian language.
13. The Assyrian World Congress wishes to express its gratitude to all nations and
governments that have given the Assyrian people the freedom to teach our language in
their countries.
14. The Assyrian World Congress expresses its deep appreciation to the French
Government and the officials of the City of Pau for their sincere assistance in insuring the
success of this Congress, and we gratefully acknowledge the expressions of good wishes
for success from individual Assyrians, Assyrian organizations and our many other friends
in high places.
15. We recommend one flag for all the affiliates.
16. To purchase land and establish a home that shall be an Assyrian national Home, in
one of the free countries.
17. By extending economic aid to our people in the Middle East we will stop Assyrian
immigration to the other parts of the world.
18. When the chapters decide that they are ready, the second Congress meeting will then
be held.
19. Invited delegates will be the only ones to attend the meeting.
20. It was unanimously decided by all the delegates at this Congress that this has now
been establish as the: ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE
Since those historic days in April of 1968 the A.U.A. delegates have held twenty four world
congresses and have drafted hundreds of other proposals and recommendations.
AIMS OF THE ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL
ALLIANCE
The Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) is an international alliance made up of various sectors of the
Assyrian national organisations and federations established throughout the world.
AUA was established to become a powerful and effective voice for the Assyrians, committing itself to
embracing, upholding and enhancing the Assyrian name globally. Its ultimate aim is to secure the national
rights of the Assyrian people in our homeland, and in
advocacy of human rights worldwide. Among its main
objectives is to gather together all the fragmented
segments of our dispersed nation and reunify them under
their old traditional name of Assyria: one name, one aim,
one language and a homeland for the Assyrian nation.
The name “Assyrian Universal Alliance” represents the
main purpose for which this organization has been
formed. Its aim is to bring together the various Assyrian
institutions, from around the world and align themselves
within such a unified body. AUA, by structure, is not a
party system. It does not resemble any political party.
Participation of Assyrian institutions in the Alliance is
available and open to social, cultural, or political
organizations and any other recognized institutions of specialization such as sports and athletics, and
others. Therefore, membership to AUA, as individual persons, is not available. AUA does not have the
system of membership to individuals. However, in accordance with the Constitution of the AUA, each
country, based on a closely estimated Assyrian population is allocated a certain number of votes.
Participation in the Alliance comes through affiliation of national organizations that exist within the
member countries. Therefore, it is safe to consider that all the Assyrian people, displaced and living in
various countries being considered are members of AUA.
Assyrian Universal Alliance has designated 7th August as the Memorial Day for the Assyrian Martyrs and
Victims of Genocide. April 1st is marked as the “Assyrian National Day”; also as the Assyrian National
Flag day. These solemn days are commemorated annually by the AUA all throughout the world.
AUA acts as the mouthpiece and representative of the Assyrians. AUA is the protector of the Assyrian
rights throughout the world. It has made many appeals and entered into numerous negotiations, with
various government bodies and international organizations, speaking on behalf of the Assyrian nation.
Talks are mainly focused on humanitarian and political issues, where the interest of our nation is involved.
Such people, organisations and governments include, but are not limited to, the six organs of the United
Nations Organisation, Iraq, Kurdish Representatives, United States of America, The United Kingdom,
Australia, and Iran. The objective of these liaisons is two-fold: (1) To advance the Assyrian cause
internationally, explaining the aspirations of the Assyrian nation, and (2) To help the Assyrians to live in
peace and harmony with the rest of the population as loyal residents or subjects, in whichever country they
happen to be living. By the same token AUA endeavours to gain the support of the democratic
governments and international community to consider and defend the rights of the indigenous Assyrian
people in their homeland (Iraq), and help restore their national identity. This would enable them preserve
their heritage, revive their native language and culture, and religion, guaranteeing practice of their
traditional rights by law, without fear of threats and reprisals.
AUA has held 24 World Congress assemblies in various countries around the globe. It has worked
tirelessly in establishing contacts with Governments of the Middle East, including Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria,
and Lebanon. AUA is trying to establish its presence in these countries for the purpose of advancing and
strengthening the existing relations between Assyrians and the local and national authorities of such
countries. Efforts, so far, have not been successful in holding an AUA congress in Iraq.
The AUA Worldwide Congress takes place each year, in a different country. Representative of the
Assyrian branches, federations, organisations, and of all other affiliations, and political parties, attend this
congress. The 22nd World Congress was held in Iran. Assyrians from 22 countries responded and were in
attendance. The Congress of our nation and people was officially acknowledged and addressed by the
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, namely, Seyed Mohamed Khatami. The Iranian government
formally recognizes and acknowledges our Assyrian people as a nation, (as confirmed in his welcoming
address). The last AUA Congress was held in London, England from July 7 to 9, 2005.
The work of AUA can be found in its declarations. They are published after conclusion and adjournment
of each congress. They are too numerous to list here.
AUA supports, promotes and encourages parliamentary representation on Assyrians in their country or area
of residence. We are in support of the work carried out by such representatives as the Hon. Younatan BetKolia MP in the Iranian Parliament, and other Assyrian representatives in Parliaments of post Saddam Iraq
and few European countries.
AUA continuously promotes and maintains solidarity relations and communications with all other Assyrian
political, social and religious groups, organisations and establishments worldwide. AUA encourages all the
Assyrian organisations, throughout the world, to establish national federations in countries of their
residence, and invites such federations to have affiliation with the AUA.
The Assyrian Universal Alliance has accomplished the first phase of its goals and objectives. Today, there
is not an Assyrian community, anywhere in the world, which is not aware of their rights and aspirations.
Our people are in regular contact with each other on global level. International communities and
governments are aware of our existence, and about our traditional rights. We have many friendly
governments on our side that are sensitive to our cause, and are prepared to assist us in advancing our
goals. We appreciate their support most heartily, and shall forever remember them in our legacy as staunch
supporters of our cause, especially, in time of need.
AUGUST 7, 1933 AS THE ASSYRIAN NATION’S
MARTYRS DAY
The Assyrian Universal Alliance declared the politically motivated massacre of Assyrians in
Semele, Iraq culminating on August 7, 1933 as the Assyrian nation‟s Martyrs Day In its 1970
Congress,. In observance of this national Memorial Day, we celebrate the heroic life of all
Assyrian martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of the Assyrian nation.
The martyrs‟ sacrifice
obliges every Assyrian
to first trace the
martyrs‟ footsteps. It is
most unfortunate that
recent Assyrian history
is a dire composition of
hardships
and
sufferings, struggles and
betrayals,
discriminations
and
human rights violations,
routine uprooting and
forced
migrations,
massacres
and
genocide.
In
the
nineteenth
and
twentieth centuries, the extent of the Assyrian nation‟s degradation is evidenced by the loss of
two-thirds of our population. Ashamedly, the infliction of this outrage has been taking place
under the watchful eyes of a world calling itself civilized and encouraging the enforcement of
human rights. It is of utmost importance that our Assyrian nation‟s tragic experiences and its zeal
and endurance in the face of such colossal atrocities do not go unnoticed.
THE ORIGINS AND DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSYRIAN FLAG
In the aftermath of the inception of the Assyrian Universal Alliance in 1968, a serious effort was
undertaken by this organization to address the need for the Assyrian nation to have its own
official national flag. To realize this dream it was decided to appeal to various Assyrian artists
and knowledgeable people, for the purpose of soliciting ideas and layouts on this important
national task. Layouts and suggestions were to be collected from across the world in order to be
presented to the AUA Congress for approval.
This worldwide effort netted a large number of
designs which were duly received and noted.
Following meticulous consideration, a
decision was reached in favour of one
particular design which best captured the
Assyrian essence from the past and the
present. In the year 1974, this design was
approved by the 6th congress of the AUA
which convened in the United States in the
city of Yonkers, New York. This flag was
designed by a wellknown Assyrian artist, Mr.
George Bit Atanus of Tehran, Iran. The main
reason for the approval of this flag was that the artist had not merely presented his own views.
Rather, he had brilliantly blended ancient Asian designs representing the former glory of the
Assyrian empire, to create an attractive fusion between the past and the present. In this way the
artist had succeeded to bridge the gap between a glorious Assyrian past and the present day
struggles and ambitions of the Assyrian nation.
The Assyrian flag is designed with a white background on which three waving stripes emerge
from each corner of a center design which is in the shape of a four headed star. At its center, the
star encompasses a golden circle representing Shamash the Assyrian sun-god who was believed
to give life to all things on earth. The four wedges of the star are a bright blue colour and
represent happiness and tranquillity.
The waving stripes protrude from the four joints of the star and stretch to the four concerns of the
flag. The Stripes are narrow at the base and become wider as they distance themselves from the
center. They symbolize the three major rivers flowing through the land of Assyria. At the top we
see the mighty Euphrates, represented in blue denoting abundance. In the center the great Zab is
in white portraying peace, and in the bottom we see the mighty Tigris in a red colour representing
the Assyrian national pride. These three stripes are also picturing the rays of the center star and
stand to symbolize the dispersion of the Assyrian people to the four corners of the world. The
manner in which these stripes emerge from the star also symbolically portrays the eventual return
of the Assyrians to their ancestral homeland which is represented by the center of the star.
Hovering over the star and the emblem of Shamash, there is a representation of the image of God
Ashur the ancient Assyrian supreme deity. The emblem of Ashur features the deity standing in a
circle with two eagle wings spanning and over stretching its length on two sides. Ashur has drawn
a bow and his arrow is ready to fly. This emblem is in the same shape and colour scheme of the
original ceramic work preserved in the British Museum.
Finally, atop the flag there stands the royal insignia of the famous Assyrian king Sargon II,
signifying the might and great civilization achieved by the Assyrians
ASSYRIANS SUFFERED THE FIRST WMD ATTACK OUTSIDE OF IRAQ
Assyrians who fled the persecutions of Iraq have been privileged to enjoy the freedom and democracy
of Western society. However, this did not stop the Iraqi regime from pursuing them, particularly in
Australia and the USA. The Assyrians in Australia had the undesirable privilege of experiencing the first
chemical and biological attack by agents of Saddam Hussein's regime.
In November 1978, the Assyrian delegation to the Eleventh World Congress of the Assyrian Universal
Alliance convened in Sydney. The five-member delegation attending from Iraq had brought along
poisoned sweets, packaged in Iraq, which were offered to the other delegates. At least nine people
suffered from poisoning.
The poisoning was identified as being mustard gas (a form of chemical weapon also used by Iraq in its
war with Iran and Kuwait). The Australian Health Authorities discovered that this form of poisoning
causes necrosis or death of the body tissues. The perpetrators escaped back to Iraq before facing
charges.
Regrettably for the Assyrians, no international action was taken at that time to publicise Iraq’s use of
such destructive weapons. This may have been due to the lack of international focus at the time on
Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. Others interpreted the lack of action as indicative that the
Assyrians were not considered sufficiently important. (Refer to the attached documents Poison Lollies)
THE ASSYRIAN GENOCIDE
Inaugural biennial conference on history and genocide
The Assyrian Universal
Alliance- Australian Chapter
was first to discuss the direct
involvement of the Assyrians
in the genocide conferences
held by the Centre for
Comparative
Genocide
Studies on 18 -19 September
1999.
Most of the speakers
presented their papers on topics relating to the Hellenic/Greek and Armenian genocide's
in the Ottoman Empire. There was one speaker, who spoke on "Assyrians and Assyrian
identity in the Ottoman Empire". He was not Assyrian. For this reason the AUA decided
to have more than one speaker or presentation, Miss Suzy David the AUA adviser on the
international affairs conducted a long meeting with the organiser of this conference Dr.
Panayiotis Diamadis, who showed a lot of interest about Assyrians and welcomed the
Assyrian presence in this conference.
The AUA was able to contact Dr. Abdul Massih Saadi, from
Chicago (Centre for Middle Eastern Studies, North Park
University, Chicago), Dr. Saadi was more than happy to present
the Assyrian side of the genocide. The title of his presentation
was: "The Scythe of the Ottoman, and the Decimation of the
Assyrians."
It is imperative to acnowege the important roll of the Holy apostolic Catholic Assyrian
Church of the East in supporting this project.
In addition the Assyrian Australian Academic Society through its research committee
took on the responsibility of working with the organising group of the genocide
conference and worked with our Australian Assyrian famous artist, Mr John Home to
present a documentary about the Assyrian genocide in Asia Minor
Submission To NSW Local Government, Fairfield City Council 2002
To honour the memory of all victims of the Assyrian genocide in an effort to attain the justice of
a living memory for them and to prevent any further horrors of that sort by educating all mankind
towards the guiding ideals of humanity and solidarity among all people.
A letter from the Assyrian Universal Alliance in Australia was addressed 12 June 2002, to
Mr Michael N. Mason, executive manager at Fairfield City Council, calling upon our local
government and urge them for the unrestricted official and public recognition of the Assyrian
genocide by the Ottoman Turkish Empire from 1915-23. On 18 June 2002, a request letter from
the Mayor of Fairfield city, Councilor Anwar Khoshaba, J.P. was addressed to Councillor Peter
Woods OAM, President of Local Government Association of NSW asking him to support the
AUA efforts.
On Friday, 16 August 2002, Ms Suzy David, Deputy Secretary General of the Assyrian Universal
Alliance, together with Mr. Hermiz Shahen Chapter Secretary of Australia and Dr. Racho Donef
attended a special conference of the NSW Local Government Association in the city, Ms. David
presented and propounded a speech about the Assyrian Genocide that held the interest of their
Executive, a copy of a submission prepared by the Australian Chapter was handed to all
members. The Executive of the Association unanimously recognised the Assyrian Genocide. It
was the first instance of a governmental authority in the world recognising the Assyrian
Genocide. The NSW Local Government Association has further passed a motion asking the
Australian Local Government Association to also recognise the Assyrian Genocide. The
President of the Executive of the NSW Local Government Association, Councillor Peter Wood
also proposed that the Association send letters to the Premier of NSW, Hon. Robert Carr and the
Prime Minister of Australia, Hon. John Howard, to urge them to recognise the Assyrian
Genocide. Refer to the following window
16 August 2002 - LW33/02
Issue 33/02
Friday, 16 August 2002
CONTENTS
GENERAL INTEREST
1 Recognition of Assyrian Martyrs and Genocide Day
The recent meeting of the Local Government Association Executive resolved to support
recognition of the genocide perpetrated against the Assyrian people in the period 1914/18.
Success of the “Return to Anatolia” Conference in Australia
The Assyrian Universal Alliance - Australia Chapter was invited to a conference held in Melbourne by the
“Return to Anatolia” organising committee. A delegation representing the Assyrian Universal Alliance and
the Assyrian Australian National
Federation headed by Messrs. Hermiz
Shahen, Frederick Isaac, and David M.
David attended this conference. The
conference was organised by Greece
and Assyrians mainly Mr. Jacob
Haweil, Dr. Nardin Yaghoub, Mrs.
Sofia Kotanidis, Mr. Dean Kalimniou,.
Also present were the following
scholars
who
made
excellent
presentations: Mr. Stavros Stavridis,
Mr. Aziz Morad, and Dr. Panayiotis
Diamadis.
We were overwhelmed with the
attendance and participation of the
Assyrians and non-Assyrians at this
historic event, including many prominent Australian figures of political, academic, and historical
backgrounds. Mr. Hermiz Shahen, delivered a speech during this conference
UNITED NATIONS
Assyrian Universal Alliance has been involved and is the protector of Assyrian rights throughout
the world. AUA has made many appeals and entered into negotiations speaking on behalf of the
Assyrian nation with various government and international organizations, both on humanitarian
and political fronts where the interest of our nation was involved. Such people, organizations and
governments include but
are not limited to the
United Nations, Iraq,
Kurds, United States,
United
Kingdom,
Australia, Iran, UNHCR,
International human rights
groups. The objectives
have always been to
advance the
Assyrian
cause internationally and
explain the aspiration of
the
Assyrian
nation,
namely to live in peace
and harmony as equal
citizens with the rest of
the population in whichever country they have adopted as their home, to gain the support of the
democratic governments and international bodies, to consider and defend the rights of the
indigenous Assyrian people in their homeland (Iraq) and to preserve their national identity,
culture, heritage, language and religion.
AUA has been participating for years in the United Nations meetings. This participation has
become more effective since we joined the International organisation known as the
“Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation” (UNPO).
The Assyrian Universal Alliance - Australian Chapter has played an important role in this respect
by continuously sending their AUA representatives to the UN meetings of the Working Groups
on minorities, which takes place in Geneva each year.
Our Australian Chapter's first representation at the UN was at the meeting of the Working Group
on Minorities, which took place in Geneva in May 1996. At this meeting, two submissions were
prepared and presented by Miss Suzy David on behalf of Assyrians. The first was on the
Assyrian plight in the Middle East, particularly Iraq. The second was a plea to governments and
the United Nations to respect and encourage the preservation of culture, language and history of
minorities including Assyrians. The Assyrian contribution at that meeting was overwhelmingly
well received. There were a number of representatives from various countries as well as nongovernment organisations and academics who asked for copies of the submissions presented.
Our representation continued almost every year
with written submissions presented at all of those
meetings including later at the meeting of the
Working Group on Indigenous Populations in May
2000 . By their efforts the UN was urged to pressure
Iraq in to comply with its international obligations
relating to minorities. Furthermore, the Chairperson
was requested to visit Iraq to encourage dialogue
between the minority groups and Iraq. The
Chairperson agreed to send a letter of condemnation
to those countries accused of violating the
declaration of rights of persons belonging to
National Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic
Minorities.
As part of its intensive campaign to promote the
Assyrian cause on the international level, a
delegation of the Assyrian Universal Alliance
(AUA) attended the General Assembly of the
Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
(UNPO) in Taipei, Taiwan from 27 to 29 October
2006. Assyria's delegates were Mary Younan (Canada), Hermiz Shahen (Australia), and Youra
Tarverdi (United States).
During the 3-day meeting, the Assyrian Universal Alliance delegates presented the critical
conditions of the Assyrian people in the Middle East, with particular focus on Iraq.
The Assyrian Universal Alliance introduced a resolution (included below) that calls the UNPO
General Assembly to support an autonomous status (self-administered region) for the Assyrians
in Iraq. The resolution triggered a comprehensive debate on the issues it was presenting and was
adopted unanimously by the UNPO General Assembly.
ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE ORGANISING THE AMISTERDAM
CONFERENCE APRIL 25- 27, 2003
To achieve the goal of unity to connect the divisions affecting our people, the Assyrian,
Chaldean, Malachite, Syriac,
and Maronite … church
denominations
through
centuries. The AUA initiated
an official invitation to all
Assyrian political parties,
organizations, and federations
for a conference to be held in
Driebergen, The Netherlands
on April 2003. In attendance
at the conference were
observer activists, government
dignitaries involved in the Assyrian Question. the conference was hosted by the President
Shlimon Haddad and the members of the Dutch Assyrian Society of Holland.
The conference called on all Church Leaders to begin a dialogue of understanding and unity to
heal the wounds of all sects of our nation.The conference acknowledges the historical unity
between Assyrians and Yezidies and requests the rights of Yezidies be secured and implemented
equally. Support Assyrian national effort for democracy, and the fulfillment of our national and
human rights in the homeland. Created a temporary Leadership Committee of nine
representatives for implementing the mandates and resolutions adopted at the Amsterdam
Conference.
ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE VISIT TO ASSYRIA Feb-March 2004
The present political changes, that Iraq is experiencing after overthrowing the corrupt
regime of Saddam Hussein, is causing a growing political
concern about the future of
The present political changes, that
our Homeland. After a successful conference hosted
by
Universal
Iraq
isthe Assyian
experiencing
after
Alliance in Amsterdam during May 2003 and a followoverthrowing
up meetingthe
during
Nov.
2003
corrupt regime of
in Germany resulting in unity among nine political Saddam
organizations
and producing
Hussein,
is causing a a
declaration on the needs of the Assyrians. Our national
require
us about
to actthe
growingduties
political
concern
future of
After a
immediately before the new constitution of Iraq is finalized
andourtheHomeland.
Assyrian nation
successful
conference
hosted
by the
lapse again victim of empty promises and lack of cohesion and unity of action created
Assyian
Universal
Alliance
by our own political organisation that are operating individually independent of eachin
Amsterdam
during .May 2003 and a
other and lacking of coordination policy which is hindering
its progress
follow up meeting during Nov. 2003
resulting in unity
The Assyrian Universal Alliance in collaboration in
withGermany
the committee
that was
among nine political organizations
developed during Amsterdam conference is planning aand
visitproducing
to Iraq. The
main purpose
a declaration on the
of this visit is to conduct meetings, strengthening ties
with
our
esteemed
political
needs of the Assyrians. Our
national
organizations operating on our homeland soil. Theduties
delegation
will
represent
the
require us to act immediately
following organizations:
before the new constitution of Iraq
is finalized
and the
Assyrian
An important meeting took place between the
governing
bodies
of nation
the
lapse
again
victim
of
empty
promises
and
lack
of
cohesion
and
unity
of
action
created
by
our
own
Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM) and Assyrian Universal Alliance
(AUA) at noon on Tuesday 02/03/2004 at the ADM political bureau
center in Ankawa. The executive board members of the Assyrian
Universal Alliance included Senator John J. Nimrod, Secretary General,
Mr. Praidon Darmoo, Secretary of Europe, Mr. Hermiz Shahen, Secretary
of Australia, Mr. Carlo Ganjeh, Secretary of Americas, Mr. Youra
political organisation that are operating individually independent of each other and lacking of
coordination policy which is hindering its progress .
The Assyrian Universal
Alliance‟ main purpose to
visit Iraq was to conduct
meetings, strengthening ties
with our esteemed political
organizations operating on
our homeland soil.
An important meeting took
place
between
the
governing bodies of the
Assyrian
Democratic
Movement (ADM) and
Assyrian Universal Alliance
(AUA) at noon on Tuesday
02/03/2004 at the ADM
political bureau center in
Ankawa. The executive
board members of the Assyrian Universal Alliance included Senator John J. Nimrod, Secretary
General, Mr. Praidon Darmoo, Secretary of Europe, Mr. Hermiz Shahen, Secretary of Australia,
Mr. Carlo Ganjeh, Secretary of Americas, Mr. Youra Tarvardi, Executive Board Member, Mr.
Baito Malik Chikko, Senior Advisor to the Secretary General, Mr. James Rayis, Legal Counsel
and Mr. Joseph Markhay, AUA Advisor. The ADM delegation included The Honorable
Younadam Y. Kanna, Secretary General, Mr. Yousif Batros, Mr. Salim Tooma, Minister Younan
Hozaya,
Mr.
Issac
Zakaria and Mr. Nazar
Hanna, members of the
leadership of Assyrian
Democratic Movement.
Both
leadership
delegations discussed
the agenda of the
meeting. This included
the political conditions
of Iraq following the
fall of the Saddam
regime, the situation of
our Nation and our
legitimate
national
rights and the ways to
mobilize, develop and
deepen the relationship between the two groups ADM and AUA. This cooperation will allow
progress on both joint national work towards achievement of legitimate ambitions in the new
Iraq. It will serve to secure our rights in the upcoming constitution. We, together.
Preliminary Meeting in Baghdad for Political Party Conference Feb-March 2004
In Wiesbaden, Germany a committee was selected representing the Amsterdam Conference
Political Parties to go to Iraq to meet with ADM and all the other political parties in Iraq. In
reference to a proposed meeting of all political parties in Iraq calling for a political parties
conference. The following items were to be considered in their agenda:
1. Resolution of items affecting our nation by the provisions of the fundamental law.
2. General resolution on demands for our nation.
3. Consideration of items for the forthcoming constitution
The committee that went to Iraq on behalf of the Amsterdam conference consisted of Sen. John J.
Nimrod, Mr. Ishaia Isho, Mr. Yusuf
Kangus, Mr. Iskender Alptekin and
Mr. Carlo Ganjeh.
The delegation met with Hon.
Yonadam Kanna, member of the Iraq
Governing Consul, the Assyrian
Democratic Movement, Assyrian
Patriotic Party, Bet Nahrain Patriotic
Union, Chaldean Democratic Union,
Chaldean
National
Congress,
Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Conference
Committee and representatives of Bet
Nahrain Democratic Party. They also
paid a condolence visit in Arbil at the
Parliament building of KDP (Kurdish
Democratic Party) and PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) in regards to the bombing of their
headquarters.
The delegation also met with all the church leaders to learn of their needs in order to exist in a
pluralistic, secular, democratic government of Iraq. They included the new patriarch of the
Chaldean Catholic Church, His Beatitude Mar Emmanuel Daly, Mar Addai Patriarch of the
Ancient Church of the East, Mar Matti Shaba Matoka the Bishop of the Syrian Catholic Church,
Mar Gewargis Slewa of the Assyrian Apostolic Church of the East and with a major delegation of
the Mandaean Religious Council.
The political parties visited agreed to participate in the. The delegation also met with the Director
of the Governance Group of the Coalition Provisional Authority and Deputy to Paul Bremer at
the Presidential Palace Headquarters. They made him aware of the proposed political party
conference and it‟s purpose. They discussed those provisions in the fundamental law that posed a
danger to our existence as the indigenous people of Iraq. They also outlined as well what was
needed by our people in order to exist in a secular, pluralistic, democratic Iraq. A secular
government is a must and special considerations must be made for preservation of our language,
customs and traditions within the fundamental law and the constitution to be voted upon next
year.
ASSYRIAN PETITION TO AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL PARLIAMENT
The Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) has determined that it must continue to do all it can to make the
Assyrian voice been heard by the Democratic Governments and international Organizations. This may
involve direct dialogue with such Governments or with relevant Government agencies, organizations and
representatives who have specific authority and knowledge of the situation and concerns of national
minorities.
The (AUA)-Australia Chapter has met a
number of times with Australian
Government Officials since 2002 and
presented detailed letters and submissions
about the status of Assyrians in Iraq.
Since the toppling of Saddam Hussein, the
indigenous Christian Assyrians of Iraq
have been under threat, due largely to their
non-Muslim status. The AUA urgently
requested a meeting with the Prime
Minister of Australia, the Hon. John
Howard and the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, The Hon. Alexander Dawner MP.,
to discuss this dire situation and act with
immediate measures to safeguard and support Iraq's terrorized religious minorities and their
places of worship. Also expressing their concern about the violent attacks in Iraq targeting
religious places of worship, holy sites, and individual members of religious and ethnic
communities. We were pleased that this matter was given serious consideration by Mr Chris
Bowen MP, who agreed to raise the Assyrian Universal Alliance petition in order for it to be
endorsed by the Australian Federal Governments to help the Christian Assyrians of Iraq and to
insure that no renewed blood bath will occur against them in the future.
PETITION
The AUA Called on the
Australian
Federal
Government to ask the
Iraqi
government
to
designate a geographic
“Protected Administration
Area” for the Assyrians in
Iraq, protected by the
Coalition
Forces
until
security returns to Iraq,
calling
for
an
administrative region for
Assyrians
within
the
provinces
of
Nineveh,
Dohuk
and
Arbil
in
implementation of Article
53d
of
the
Iraqi
government's Transitional
Administrative Law. A minor
legislative amendment could also address the plight of the Assyrians in Iraq and help by appropriating
5 percent of the Iraqi portion of the Foreign Appropriations Bill, to be administered by Assyrians for the
safety of the Christian population and the rebuilding of their villages and towns in Iraq. Mr. Chris
Bowen MP lodged this petition on Monday 14 March 2005 in the Federal Parliament of Australia.
DEBATE OF THE ASSYRIAN PETITION IN THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL PARLIAMENT
Monday 23 May 2005, Mr. Chris Bowen, the labor MP moved the AUA motion before Question
Time (around 1:30pm) in the Federal Parliament
House of representatives. About three thousands
Assyrians from Sydney and Melbourne signed this
petition. Mr. Chris Bowen MP lodged the above
petition on Monday 14 March 2005 in the Federal
Parliament of Australia. Monday 23 May 2005, Mr.
Chris Bowen, the labor MP moved the AUA motion
before Question Time (around 1:30pm) in the Federal
Parliament “ House of representatives”. This move
came following a petition that was circulated by the
Assyrian Universal Alliance – Australia Chapter,
calling on the Australian Government to urge the Iraqi
Government to create a „protected administrative area
for the Assyrians„. About three thousands Assyrians
from Sydney and Melbourne signed this petition.
On behalf of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) we are pleased to announce that after a
strong lobby which this chapter conducted with more than 15 Ministers and Senators of the
governing Australian Liberal members with help from dedicated Assyrians Mr Poul Azzo and Mr
Zaya Tooma, the Monday 23 May 2005 motion was successfully seconded and endorsed by the
six speakers of the house. The whole debate lasted about 30 minutes. An audio CD will be
available shortly for Assyrian political Organisations wish‟s to view and keep for records
MEETING WITH THE AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS
& TRADE MINISTER
Touring major countries in a bid to raise awareness of the Assyrians‟ plight, Senator John J.
Nimrod, the Secretary General of the Assyrian Universal Alliance who visited Australia on 14
October 2003, is calling on a bill of rights that encompasses all Iraqi citizens and a promise that if
there is an ethnic division in the country, the provinces of Ninawa (Nineveh) and Dohuk be
designated as the area for non-Muslims.
Senator Nimrod told Federal Parliament on 14
October 2003 visit, that it was time for the Assyrian
people to push for a democratic government in Iraq.
The Assyrians, who Senator Nimrod described as
the “Aboriginal people of Iraq”, have never been
formally recognized as the indigenous people of the
country and he is hoping after the collapse of
Saddam Hussein‟s regime, they will receive the
recognition they deserve. “We just want the doors
of communication between governments and the
people opened…Assyrians are the key to a secular
government, because we represent a large part of
the country which is non-Muslim,” Senator Nimrod told the Fairfield Advance Newspaper." If
the Assyrians had a voice in the new government, many of the people who were forced to flee
the country world return.”
The future of post-war Iraq is being watched closely by more than 20,000 Assyrians living in
Fairfield City, Australia many of whom may consider returning to their homeland if they are
represented in Iraq‟s new government body, says a US senator.
With the support from MR. Paul
Azzo and the Hon. Rose
Cameron MP, An Assyrian
delegation met with the
Australian Foreign Affairs
Minister,
The
Honourable
Alexander Downer MP, on
Wednesday 15 September 2004,
in a prescheduled one hour
meeting. The delegate attended
this meeting were representing
the AUA-Australian Chapter
and the Assyrian Australian
National Federation and Mr Paul Azzo, prominent Assyrian, member of the governing Liberal
Party
During the meeting the delegates expressed their sincere gratitude for the magnificent and tireless
efforts by the Prime Minister of Australia, Honourable John Howard, for taking an active part in
liberating the people of Iraq from the evil regime of Saddam and being part in the new chapter in
the history of modern Iraq. In a lengthy one-hour discussion, the delegation briefed the Minister
with the latest development in Iraq and the neglect of the Assyrian question after the liberation of
Iraq, in which not much attention
has been given to their demands.
The delegation debated other
related issues and topics of
importance and urgency for our
people in Iraq, such as the newly
adopted
Transitional
Administrative Law (TAL) of
Iraq, also known as the Iraqi
Fundamental
Law,
which
recognizes Islam as the official
religion of Iraq but does not
mention other religions in Iraq. If Iraq is supposed to be a secular nation; there is no need to
emphasize and signify one religion over the others, even if that religion is of the vast majority of
the Iraqis. In addition, the TAL fails to mention or name the national groups (nationalities) of
Iraq. The TAL should stress that Iraqi people comprise many nationalities including Arabs,
Kurds, Assyrians, Turcomans and others. Recognition of the Assyrian people as a nation and not
a community is very important since they are the indigenous people of Iraq and the most
oppressed people because of their religion and cultural identity.
The Assyrian Universal Alliance presented the Minister with a submission included compiled
report of recent oppression against the Assyrians in Iraq together with other important documents.
The delegate appealed to the Australian Government to help our people in the rebuilding of their
destroyed villages and the resettlement projects. They stressed about the importance of security to
be provided for the Assyrians in a form of safe haven within a federal Iraqi state, in which they
can administer themselves and live in peace as proud Iraqi citizens in the land of their forefathers.
If this ancient indigenous people of Iraq are decimated, then all other remaining Christians in Iraq
will immediately become vulnerable.
The Secretary’s office of the Assyrian Universal Alliance Australia chapter received an invitation for
Community Leaders to a breakfast with the Hon. John Howard MP, Prime Minister of Australia
and the Hon. Rose Cameron MP on Friday 28 May 2004.
In a pre-organised discussion
with Mr Cameron we were
able to have a few minutes
talks with the Prime Minister
about the future of Assyrians
in Iraq after the transfer of
full sovereignty to an Iraqi
government on June 30, and
the possible dangerous facing
our nation. We also present
him with an official letter
detailing
the
situation,
requesting an immediate appointment with him to discuss the mater further and asking for
Australian government support to our demands in Iraq. After many questions raised by the Prime
Minister he stated in front of the media and local government members (code): that in my next
week visit to the United State, I will raise this issue with Mr Colin Powel and I assure you that
some thing has to be done about it.
Establishment Of Assyrian Parliamentary Friendship Group
The
Assyrian
Universal Alliance Australian Chapter
continues
in
its
efforts and appeals,
through the Assyrian
Parliamentary
Friendship Group, to
seeking the assistance
of the Australian
Government.
As a
result, a number of
intensive
meetings
has recently taken
place with certain
governmental
departments in this
regard. As a result we
were successful to
have established an Assyrian parliamentary friendship group, chaired by Mr. Bruce Baird MP,
Liberal Party and Mr. Chris Bowen MP, Labor Party. This Parliamentary group was established
by Mr Bowen to lobby the Assyrian case in the Australian Federal Parliament. The group was
formed of three senators and five members of Parliament from both leading political parties the
Liberal and Labor.
On Wednesday, 21 June 2006, a delegation representing the Assyrian Universal Alliance
headed to Canberra to meet with Assyrian parliamentary friendship group, chaired by Mr. Bruce
Baird MP, Liberal Party and Mr. Chris Bowen MP, Labor Party.
During the meeting which lasted an hour and a half a submission was presented to the Australian
government calling on the Australian Government to support the plight of the Assyrians in Iraq
and immediately take the necessary steps to secure this indigenous people, from further harm
coming to them, in their ancestral homeland in North Iraq by the immediate establishment of an
Assyrian Region in Northern Iraq, the ancestral homeland of the indigenous Assyrians.
The meeting was very fruitful and that recommendations were made to proceed with this matter
to the higher authorities. Senator Payne promised to work on organising a conference with the
Human Rights Committee Foreign Affairs. In the meantime we were honoured to have few more
new friends from both senators and members of the parliament joining the lobby group.
Later in the day the Hon. Senator Marise Payne, when speaking in the Senate about Iraq, gave the
statement below about the meeting.
Thursday, 17 August 2006, an important meeting took place between a delegation from the AUA
- Australia chapter and The Human Rights sub-committee Joint Standing Committee on Foreign
Affairs, Defence and Trade. Senator Marise Payne chaired the meeting. During the meeting a
comprehensive report was presented to the committee BY Ms. Suzy David , supported by several
documents, which explained the tragic and dangerous situation our people are facing in Iraq.
AUA presented an immediate plan of action to the committee, requesting to take the discussion
further with the Australian authorities. The meeting was successful. Members of our delegation
where officially congratulated for their professionalism in presenting the Assyrian issue. The
issue was supported with many comprehensive documents relating to the subject matter.
MEETING WITH MINISTER OF IMMIGRATION & ETHNIC
AFFAIRS
On Thursday 24 May 2007, a delegation representing the Assyrian Universal Alliance Australian Chapter, the Assyrian Church of the East and the Assyrian Australian National
Federation (AANF); went on an official visit to Canberra to hold a number of meetings with
government officials. The delegates attending these meetings were; His Grace Bishop Mar Meelis
Zaia AM., of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian
Church of the East; Hermiz Shahen, Secretary of the Assyrian Universal Alliance - Australian
Chapter; Rev Father Genard Lazar of the Youth Ministry, Assyrian Church of the East; Mr. Paul
Azzo, the organiser of this meeting, and Mr. David M. David, Vice President of the Assyrian
Australian National Federation, Chairman of AUA Executive Committee in Sydney
The delegation met with Mr. Kevin Andrews MP., Minister for Immigration, in the
presence of the Honorable Concetta Fierravanti-Wells. During the meeting the delegates
congratulated the Minister on his new appointment. The delegation briefed the Minister with the
latest development in Iraq and the neglect of the Assyrian issue after the liberation, the wages of
sectarian violence and systematic abuses by Islamic extremists against the entire Christian
population. As a matter of urgency and importance, the delegates called upon the Australian
Government to take some immediate action and lasting measures to address the major
humanitarian crisis suffered by the Assyrian refugees and requested
emergency assistance such as food, shelters, education, health care facilities and legal documents
for these displaced Iraqi Christians in order to improve their living conditions in the host
countries, specifically in Jordan, Syria, Turkey and Lebanon. At the conclusion of the meeting,
the Assyrian Universal Alliance handed an official letter and some detailed reports to the Minister
and another letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon. John Howard MP.,
concerning the situation of the Christian Refugees and mounting number of threats facing the
Iraqi Assyrians..
THE ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE AND THE IRAQI CONSTITUTION 12 OCTOBER 2005
Iraq’s draft constitution is up for ratification through a national referendum on October 15.
The draft guarantees a wide range of individual liberties and rights in accordance with the
Universal Declaration on Human Rights; it lays the foundation for building an Iraq based on
the principles of democracy and human rights, and provides for an Iraq governed by the rule
of law and independent judiciary. However, the draft does not meet Assyrian (also known as
Chaldeans and Syriacs) ambitions as the indigenous people of Iraq. Draft constitution makes
them into second-class citizens, and will affect the sovereignty of Iraq in the future. The
Assyrian Universal Alliance, an international alliance of various establishments of the
Assyrian people throughout the world, believes that the draft aborts the democratic process
which Assyrians hoped for, and that our national rights are not completely recognized.
Therefore, the Assyrian Universal Alliance rejects the draft constitution because several
articles in the constitution are viewed negatively and discriminately lean toward certain
ethnic, religious and sectarian tendencies. We had hoped for a democratic, pluralistic,
secular and sovereign Iraq that will be constituted on principles of democracy, rule of law,
and guarantee human rights and equality for all citizens irrespective of their ethnic
background or religion. But the constitution prohibits the passage of any law that contradicts
the undisputed rules of Islam, without specifying these rules in order to avoid any
misinterpretation by different judges in the courts of law, and does not mention other
religions in Iraq. There is no need to emphasize and signify one religion over the others, even
if that religion is that of the vast majority of the Iraqis. As evidenced by our history and in
general, the practice of modern Islamic states, we strongly oppose the linking and
interpretation of human rights by Islamic Shari’a law.
Furthermore, the preamble of the draft ignores the Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian and
Babylonian civilizations that reflect the rich history and culture of Iraq, which is known as the
cradle of civilization. The draft refers only to the Islamic identity and history of Iraq and
forgoes the acknowledgment of the Assyrian as the original owners of the land, their
indigenous rights and protection. Another statement in the preamble reads “inspired by the
suffering of Iraq’s martyrs - Sunni and Shiite, Arab, Kurd and Turkmen, and the remaining
brethren in all communities,” the draft again fails to mention or name the Assyrian martyrs.
The Assyrian people have long suffered because of their religious and cultural identity and
their martyrdom is based on the true meaning of the term, where they were the victims of
violence, not the perpetrators of violence. They have been deprived of their land and have
been victim to several massacres and other kinds of oppression over the centuries.
We also reaffirm our conviction that rebuilding the Iraqi state institutions must be based on
citizenship, efficiency, and integrity, and that the allegiance of these institutions should be to
the state and not to religion or ethnicity.
The draft constitution also ignores to mention or name all the national groups of Iraq, since
the draft guarantees the administrative, political, cultural, and educational rights for various
ethnicities and names a few of them only (Turkomen, Assyrians, and others) which still
reflects that Iraq consists of mainly Arabs and Kurds and “other” minorities. The draft should
stress that Iraqi people comprise many nationalities and recognize the legitimate national
rights of all elements of its people and should be all mentioned in the same statement and
category. In addition, the draft divides our people into a variety of names contrary to the
historical fact that all these names refer to one people. We are one people regardless of
today’s different and commonly used names such as Chaldeans, Siryans, Atoureen, and the
new constitution must recognize and include us, the people of Assyria, in the new Iraq.
Finally, Federalism should not be for one part of Iraq but not for the rest of the country and it
should not be only for the Kurds and Shiite but also for the Assyrians, Sunnis, Turkomen, and
other smaller minorities. As a security for the future of Assyrians, the Christian indigenous
people of Iraq, we request that the government of Iraq grant to the Assyrians an Assyrian
administrative region on the land of their ancestors, Ashur.
In conclusion, we emphasize that the vision of the Assyrian people in a post-dictatorship
democratic Iraq among other things includes: equality, human rights, constitutional
recognition, representation in a democratic, secular and multiethnic government, the right to
return to their homes and to their lands, allowance to practice and preserve their language,
culture, and customs, to be free of political and religious persecution, and guarantees of the
same national rights of autonomy and self-determination afforded any other group within
Iraq.
MIDDLE EAST CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE-SYDNEY Sydney – 13 July, 2007
Mr. Hermiz Shahen, the Secretary of the Assyrian Universal Alliance in Australia received an
invitation from Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile MLC to participate as a key speaker at the
“MIDDLE EAST CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE” held at NSW State Parliament on Monday 9
July, 2007.
The theme of the Conference was “Alleviating the Persecution and Suffering of Christians in the
Middle East”.
The aim of the Conference was to examine the following:
1. How can we support and protect Christians in all Islam-dominated countries of the
Middle East?
2. How can we assist, where required, their migration to Australia?
3. How can we ensure a favourable review of the Australian Immigration Policy?
4. How can we assist the establishment of an Assyrian Homeland in Iraq?
5. How should we respond to militant Islamists?
Over 100 people attended the conference
including representatives from different
Australian
churches,
Christian
organisations, including His Grace Bishop
Daniel Coptic Orthodox Church in
Australia, and members of State
Parliament.
Delegations representing many Assyrian
organisations were also present at the
conference including representatives from
the Assyrian Universal Alliance, Assyrian
Sports and cultural Club, Safe Assyria Front, Youth Group of the Assyrian Church of the East
and the following prominent Assyrians; Mr. Paul Azzo; an adviser to the Assyrian Universal
Alliance on foreign affairs Mr. Andy Rohan and Mr. Zaia Tooma, who took part in the panel and
answered many questions in an eloquent manner.
Mr. Shahen made a presentation
accompanied by a photo slide
show of Assyrian history, maps
and culture. He briefed the
audience about the history and
the achievements of the
Assyrian civilization and then
turned to the systematic acts of
genocide
and
massacres
perpetrated against the Assyrian
nation, mainly by the Islamic
fundamentalists, who caused the
rich and developed Assyrian culture and population to dwindle in number and spirit and to
become a nation of refugees.
An extract of Mr. Shahen‟s speech follows:
“Currently in Iraq, the persecution and oppression of Assyrians by different Islamic Fundamentalist
groups continues unabated. We keep receiving disturbing news on a daily basis including the following:
Assyrian churches being bombed; Assyrians are still being killed, kidnapped or assaulted; young Assyrian
girls are being raped by criminal gangs who abduct and forced to marry Muslim men; Assyrians are being
removed from their homes in the cities of Baghdad, Mosul, Kirkuk and Basra; Assyrian students are being
deprived of education; properties owned by Assyrians have been confiscated; Assyrian priests and
children are being abducted and beheaded; and Assyrians are being persecuted and punished for
non-compliance with Islamic (Shari’a) Laws.
Non-Muslims have been told to “convert to Islam within 24 hours or die” many have refused to
convert and have been slaughtered. Recently in Baghdad, in the Dora neighbourhood, Islamists
are systematically targeting the Assyrians forcing them to pay the jizya (a poll tax demanded by
the Koran which all Christians and Jews must pay in exchange for being allowed to live). Almost
all the Assyrians have fled from the area leaving behind all their belongings. Most recently a
statement by an Islamic group that calls itself the Islamic Emirate of Mosul threatened all
Christians living in Mosul to leave the city within three days or the group will behead any
Christian who will remain in the city.
The Australian Government should take immediate, short term and permanent/long term
measures to address the crisis facing the Assyrians in the Middle East including:




Economical assistance to address the basis of the humanitarian needs of the Assyrian
refugee population;
Securing temporary visas for refugees in host countries;
Whilst AUA policy does not support the uprooting of people from their homelands, the
AUA is thankful to all countries accepting refugees and kindly ask the Australian
Government to open its doors a little wider to Assyrian refugees for resettlement in
Australia; and
Supporting the Assyrian demands to establish a geographically viable demarcated region
in the Northern Iraq as the Assyrian Autonomous region (encompassing the historic
Assyrian triangle between the great Zab & Tigris rivers) with support from the Iraqi
government as well as the international community, particularly the United Nations. The
newly created Assyrian region in the said territory shall be administrated and protected by
the Assyrians, under the jurisdiction of the central government.
Rather than having a migration policy for all of the Middle Eastern Christians to move to
the western countries, the establishment of such an Assyrian region at the heart of the
Islamic world with a constitution of its own and based on the western style democracies
will impact the entire Christian population in the Middle East. It will not only be most
crucial to the security and survival of the Assyrians in Iraq, allowing greater local Assyrian
control within the context of their integrated, sovereign Iraqi state, it would also allow for
political, educational, linguistic, religious and cultural protection.
In his concluding statements, Mr. Shahen said “Assyrians, the indigenous people of Iraq, are
entitled to human and national freedom within a pluralist, democratic and federalist Iraq. The
recognition of their needs and demands is essential in preserving the vulnerable Assyrian nation and
in enabling them to remain in their homeland. The world is lucky to still have the Assyrians with
their wonderful culture and language. Please save this rich legacy before it all disappears. I will
leave you now with a very big question mark: HOW CAN YOU HELP THE ASSYRIANS? It is
now in your court to find the right answer(s).”
Mr. Shahen then also took part in the panel to answers questions and took suggestions from the
audience.
Prior to the conclusion of the conference, the audience voted on the Final Manifesto which included
this very important point “To assist the establishment, within Iraq, of an Assyrian Homeland,
where all Christians may live in safety and security, a homeland which may provide for
Christians the beacon of hope which Israel so effectively provides for Jews; and to persuade our
Allies in Iraq that high priority must be given to the protection of Assyrians, Chaldeans and
Syriac Christians.”
Mr. Shahen, congratulated Reverend the Hon. Fred Nile MLC on behalf of the Assyrian
Australian Community and the Assyrian Universal Alliance for organising such a successful
Conference and for taking the initiative in supporting the plight of the embattled Christians in the
Middle East and in particular the Assyrian people of Iraq.
COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE TO HONOUR THE LIFE OF LIEUTENANT
st
GENERAL STANLEY SAVIGE; Thursday 31 August 2006
A delegation representing the Assyrian Universal Alliance
and the Assyrian Australian National Federation travelled to
Melbourne to take part in the commemoration services to
honour the life of honour Lt Gen Stanley Savige for his
heroic actions and extraordinary act of courage under
extremely dangerous circumstances to save the life of
innocent Assyrian civilians during WW1.The
commemoration services was organised by Mr. Gabriel
(Gaby) Kiwarkis, from Assyrian Levie Association
In the name of the Assyrian Universal Alliance, and in the
name of all the Assyrians, Mr Hermiz Shahen, secretary of
the Assyrian Universal Alliance Australia Chapter presented
the Assyrian Martyrs Medallion to Mr Stanley S.G. Waters.
Stan accepted the award on behalf of his grandfather General Savige, for His conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty.
This medal is awarded to the Assyrians, who survived the genocide of WW1, in remembrance of
their sacrifice. We say thank you to Lt General Savige for it is so hard to imagine what it must
have been like to leave one‟s familiar surroundings and family, and be sent to a far off land, to
fight to drive away enemies of freedom and democracy.
To Savige‟s family, we say congratulations. By his honourable deed Lt. Gen Savige‟s name has
been immortalized for defending his country and for saving the Assyrians and leading them to
safety.
We are indebted to him and shall always remember him
On 7 December 2007, a
delegation representing the
Assyrian Universal Alliance
(AUA) – Australian and Asia
Chapters visited North of Iraq
for a 9 days special fact
finding mission regarding the
situation of Assyrians in Iraq.
Australian Assyrian delegates
were Mr. Hermiz Shahen, the
chapter secretary of the
organization in Australia and
Mr. David M. David , the
president of the Assyrian
Australian
National
Federation. The Asia Chapter delegates were represented by Mr. Younata Bet Kolia,
Deputy Secretary General of the AUA, and member of the Iranian Parliament, Dr.
William Peroyan , Executive
Board Member and AUA
Founder together with Mr.
Hoveik Shmouel
An intensive schedule was
prepared during the stay in the
Assyrian ancestral homeland in
Northern Iraq. The delegates
travelled
hundreds
of
kilometres between cities and
towns to visit Assyrian
families, schools, political
parties and Ministers.
The general observation is that
Assyrians are living in distressing conditions. The human rights situation is deteriorating
in all of Iraq and the repression of civil and political rights continues unabated. The
ethno-religious persecution of Christians in Iraq has reached extreme forms of human
degradation with fundamentalist groups targeting Christians by burning churches,
assassinating civilians, robbery, kidnap and land confiscation. Our Assyrian nation is
systematically discriminated against constitutionally, politically and by the administrative
laws in Iraq.
‫زيارة وفد االتحاد اآلشوري الﻌالمي للوطن‬
‫ِٓ ‪ٌٚ 2000/12/00‬غب‪٠‬خ ‪2000/12/14‬‬
‫لبَ ‪ٚ‬فذ ِٓ األرذبد ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪ ٞ‬اٌؼبٌّ‪ ٟ‬ثض‪٠‬بسح اٌ‪ ٝ‬ألٍ‪ِٛ ُ١‬غٓ آؽ‪ٛ‬س ثزبس‪٠‬خ ‪ ٚ 2000/12/00‬رعّٓ اٌ‪ٛ‬فذ وً ِٓ‪-:‬‬
‫* اٌغ‪١‬ذ ‪ٔٛ٠‬بثٓ ث‪١‬ذ و‪١ٌٛ‬ب ‪ ...‬اٌّّثً ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪ ٞ‬ف‪ ٟ‬اٌجشٌّبْ األ‪٠‬شأ‪ٔ ،ٟ‬بئت اٌغىشر‪١‬ش اٌؼبَ ٌألرذبد ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪ٞ‬‬
‫اٌؼبٌّ‪ ،ٟ‬عىشر‪١‬ش اع‪١‬ب‬
‫*اٌذوز‪ٛ‬س ‪ ُ١ٌٚ‬ث‪١‬شا ‪ ...‬ػع‪ِ ٛ‬إعظ ف‪ ٟ‬األرذبد ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪ ٞ‬اٌؼبٌّ‪ / ٟ‬اعزبر اٌؼٍ‪ َٛ‬اٌغ‪١‬بع‪١‬خ ف‪ ٟ‬جبِؼخ غ‪ٙ‬شاْ‬
‫*اٌغ‪١‬ذ ٘‪ٛ‬ف‪١‬ه ؽّ‪ٛ‬ئ‪ِ ... ً١‬ذبِ‪ِٚ ٟ‬غزؾبس لبٔ‪ٌ ٟٔٛ‬ألعزبر ‪ٔٛ٠‬بثٓ ث‪١‬ذ و‪١ٌٛ‬ب‬
‫‪ ٚ‬رعّٓ اٌ‪ٛ‬فذ اٌمبدَ ِٓ اعزشاٌ‪١‬ب وً ِٓ اٌغبدح‪-:‬‬
‫* اٌغ‪١‬ذ ٘شِض ؽب٘‪ ... ٓ١‬عىشر‪١‬ش األرذبد ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪ ٞ‬اٌؼبٌّ‪ / ٟ‬فشع اعزشاٌ‪١‬ب‬
‫* اٌغ‪١‬ذ د‪٠‬ف‪١‬ذ د‪٠‬ف‪١‬ذ ‪ ...‬ػع‪ٛ‬اٌٍجٕخ اٌزٕف‪١‬ز‪٠‬خ ٌألرذبد ‪ ٚ‬سئ‪١‬ظ ارذبد اٌّإعغبد ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪٠‬خ ف‪ ٟ‬اعزشاٌ‪١‬ب (اٌفذس‪٠‬ؾٓ)‬
‫ثؼذ األعزمجبي‪ ،‬ر‪ٛ‬جٗ اٌ‪ٛ‬فذ اٌضائش ف‪ ٟ‬رّبَ اٌغبػخ ‪ِ 0:00‬غبء اٌ‪ِ ٝ‬ذبفظخ د٘‪ٛ‬ن‪ٚ .‬فذ اجش‪ ٜ‬اٌ‪ٛ‬فذ ٌمبءاد ػذ‪٠‬ذح‬
‫اّ٘‪ٙ‬ب ‪:‬‬
‫ف‪ َٛ٠ ٟ‬اٌغجذ اٌّ‪ٛ‬افك‬
‫‪ ٚ 2000/12/00‬ف‪ِ ٟ‬ذبفظخ د٘‪ٛ‬ن‬
‫أجش‪ٌ ٜ‬مبء ِغ اٌّجٍظ اٌؾؼج‪ٟ‬‬
‫اٌىٍذأ‪ ٟ‬اٌغش‪٠‬بٔ‪ ٟ‬ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪ / ٞ‬ف‪ٟ‬‬
‫اٌّمش اٌؼبَ‪ ،‬د‪١‬ث اعزمجً ‪ٚ‬فذ‬
‫األرذبد ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪ ٞ‬اٌؼبٌّ‪ ِٓ ٟ‬لجً‬
‫سئ‪١‬ظ ‪ٚ‬اػعبء ٘‪١‬ئخ اٌشئبعخ‬
‫(جّ‪ ً١‬ص‪٠‬ز‪ ،ٛ‬ج‪ٔٛ‬غٓ ع‪١‬ب‪ٚ‬ػ‪،‬‬
‫ع‪ٛ‬صاْ و‪ٛ١‬سو‪١‬ظ‪ ،‬ف‪ٛ٠ ّٟٙ‬عف)‪.‬‬
‫رالٖ ٌمبء ِغ فشع د٘‪ٛ‬ن ٌذضة ث‪١‬ذ‬
‫ٔ‪ٙ‬ش‪ ٓ٠‬اٌذ‪ّ٠‬مشاغ‪ ،ٟ‬د‪١‬ث اعزمجً‬
‫‪ٚ‬فذ ِٓ لجً اٌغ‪١‬ذ ا‪٠‬ؾب‪٠‬ب دا‪ٚ‬د‬
‫ِغإ‪ٚ‬ي اٌفشع ‪١٘ٚ‬ئخ اٌفشع‪.‬‬
‫* ‪ٚ‬ثؼذ٘ب ر‪ٛ‬جٗ اٌ‪ٛ‬فذ ف‪ ٟ‬ج‪ٌٛ‬خ اٌ‪ٝ‬‬
‫لش‪٠‬خ ا‪ٕ٠‬ؾى‪ ،ٟ‬د‪١‬ث اٌزم‪ٕ٘ ٝ‬بن‬
‫ثّذسعخ (ا‪ٕ٠‬ؾى‪ٚ )ٟ‬ثبألعزبر عبٌُ ِذ‪٠‬ش اٌّذسعخ‪ِٕٙٚ ،‬ب ر‪ٛ‬جٗ اٌ‪ٛ‬فذ ف‪ ٟ‬ج‪ٌٛ‬خ رفمذ‪٠‬خ ٌٍّٕطمخ‪.‬‬
‫‪ٚ‬وبْ اٌٍمبء ا‪٢‬خش ِغ اٌذضة اٌ‪ٛ‬غٕ‪ٟ‬‬
‫ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪ / ٞ‬فشع د٘‪ٛ‬ن‪ ،‬د‪١‬ث اعزمجً اٌ‪ٛ‬فذ‬
‫ِٓ لجً اٌغبدح اػعبء اٌّىزت اٌغ‪١‬بع‪، ٟ‬‬
‫‪ِٚ‬غإ‪ٚ‬ي اٌفشع ‪ٚ ،‬اٌ‪١ٙ‬ئخ اٌؼبٍِخ‪.‬‬
‫ثُ أجش‪ٌ ٜ‬مبء ِغ اٌّشوض اٌثمبف‪ ٟ‬ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪ٞ‬‬
‫‪ِٚ‬ذ‪٠‬ش اٌّشوض اٌغ‪١‬ذ (ٔ‪١‬غبْ ِ‪١‬شصا)‪،‬‬
‫‪ٚ‬اػعبء اٌ‪١ٙ‬ئخ األداس‪٠‬خ ٌٍّشوض‪.‬‬
‫‪ٚ‬ثؼذ٘ب اٌزم‪ ٝ‬اٌ‪ٛ‬فذ ثفشلخ ثشا لبال ٌٍّغشح‬
‫‪ٚ‬اٌفٕ‪ٚ ،ْٛ‬اٌمظ ؽبؤ‪ٚ‬ي ساػ‪ ٟ‬وٕ‪١‬غخ ِبس‬
‫و‪ٛ١‬سو‪١‬ظ ‪ /‬وٕ‪١‬غخ اٌّؾشق ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪٠‬خ ف‪ٟ‬‬
‫ِٕطمخ ثش‪ٚ‬ؽى‪ ٟ‬ثذ٘‪ٛ‬ن‪.‬‬
‫‪ٚ‬ف‪ ٟ‬اٌ‪ َٛ١‬اٌثبٔ‪ ٟ‬األدذ اٌّصبدف ‪ 2000/12/00‬اٌزم‪ ٝ‬اٌ‪ٛ‬فذ ثبٌج‪ٙ‬بد اٌزبٌ‪١‬خ‬
‫* ٌمبء ثّذبفظ د٘‪ٛ‬ن اٌغ‪١‬ذ (رّش سِعبْ فزبح) ‪ٔٚ‬بئجٗ اٌغ‪١‬ذ (و‪ٛ١‬سو‪١‬ظ ؽٍ‪)ّْٛ١‬‬
‫* ص‪٠‬بسح ِذسعخ ٔص‪١‬ج‪ٚ ٓ١‬اٌٍمبء ثّذ‪٠‬ش٘ب اٌغ‪١‬ذ (خ‪ٛ‬ؽبثب ِبِ‪)ٛ‬‬
‫* رٍج‪ ٟ‬دػ‪ٛ‬ح اٌغ‪١‬ذ ِذبفظ د٘‪ٛ‬ن ػٍ‪ ٝ‬اٌغزاء ف‪ ٟ‬داس اٌع‪١‬بفخ‬
‫* ص‪٠‬بسح ٌّٕطمخ عّ‪ٚ ً١‬وٕ‪١‬غخ اٌؾ‪ٙ‬ذاء ف‪ٙ١‬ب‬
‫* ٌمبء ثبٌّ‪ٕٙ‬ذط اد‪ٚ‬س دٕب ‪ /‬اٌؼع‪ ٛ‬اٌغبثك ف‪ ٟ‬ل‪١‬بدح اٌذشوخ اٌذ‪ّ٠‬مشاغ‪١‬خ ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪٠‬خ‪ٚ ،‬ا‪٠‬عب ٌمبء ثأػعبء جّؼ‪١‬خ‬
‫او‪١‬ز‪ٌٍّ ٛ‬ذبِبح ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪٠‬خ‬
‫* ٌمبء األعمف ِبس اعذك ‪ٛ٠‬عف‪ /‬اعمف ؽّبي اٌؼشاق ‪ٚ‬س‪ٚ‬ع‪١‬ب‪ /‬ف‪ِ ٟ‬ىبْ البِزٗ ثبألعمف‪١‬خ‪.‬‬
‫* ٌمبء ثبٌغ‪١‬ذ ٔ‪ٕ١‬ت ر‪ِٛ‬ب اثٓ اٌؾ‪١ٙ‬ذ اٌخبٌذ ‪ٛ٠‬عف ر‪ِٛ‬ب‬
‫* ظ‪١‬بفخ ػٍ‪ ٝ‬ؽشف اٌ‪ٛ‬فذ ِٓ لجً ٔبئت ِذبفظ د٘‪ٛ‬ن اٌؾّبط و‪ٛ١‬سو‪١‬ظ ؽٍ‪ّْٛ١‬‬
‫األثٕ‪2000/12/10 ٓ١‬‬
‫* ٌمبء ‪ٚ‬ص‪٠‬ش األلٍ‪ٌٍّٕ ُ١‬ظّبد اٌّجزّغ‬
‫اٌّذٔ‪ ٟ‬اٌغ‪١‬ذ ج‪ٛ‬سج ِٕص‪ٛ‬س‬
‫* ٌمبء ‪ٚ‬ص‪٠‬ش اٌغ‪١‬بدخ ‪ٚ‬ا‪٢‬ثبس اٌغ‪١‬ذ‬
‫ّٔش‪ٚ‬د ث‪١‬ز‪ٛ‬‬
‫* ظ‪١‬بفخ ف‪ ٟ‬ؽ‪١‬شار‪ ْٛ‬ػٍ‪ ٝ‬ؽشف‬
‫اٌ‪ٛ‬فذ ِٓ لجً اٌغ‪١‬ذ ‪ٚ‬ص‪٠‬ش اٌغ‪١‬بدخ‬
‫‪ٚ‬ا‪٢‬ثبس‬
‫اٌثالثبء ‪2000/12/11‬‬
‫* اٌغفش اٌ‪ ٝ‬اٌم‪ٛ‬ػ ‪ٚ‬اٌٍمبء ف‪ٙ١‬ب ‪-:‬‬
‫‪ .1‬ثجّؼ‪١‬خ اٌثمبفخ اٌىٍذأ‪١‬خ‪ٚ ،‬اٌغ‪١‬ذ‬
‫غض‪ٚ‬اْ سصق هللا سئ‪١‬ظ اٌجّؼ‪١‬خ‬
‫‪ٚ‬اػعبء اٌٍجٕخ األداس‪٠‬خ ‪.‬‬
‫‪ .2‬ص‪٠‬بسح د‪٠‬ش سثبْ ٘شِض ثصذجخ‬
‫سئ‪١‬ظ اٌجّؼ‪١‬خ اٌثمبف‪١‬خ ‪ٚ‬األعزبر‬
‫ِغؼ‪ٛ‬د ِ‪١‬خبئ‪ ً١‬صٕب سئ‪١‬ظ رذش‪٠‬ش ِجٍخ ا‪ٚ‬س اٌفصٍ‪١‬خ‪.‬‬
‫‪ .3‬ص‪٠‬بسح لعبء ؽ‪١‬خبْ‬
‫‪ .4‬ص‪٠‬بسح ٌٍّٕطمخ األثش‪٠‬خ ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪٠‬خ (خٕظ)‬
‫األسثؼبء ‪2000/12/12‬‬
‫* ص‪٠‬بسح ِذ‪٠‬ش‪٠‬خ اٌثمبفخ اٌغش‪٠‬بٔ‪١‬خ‪ ،‬اعزمجً‬
‫اٌ‪ٛ‬فذ ِٓ لجً اٌغبدح(اٌذوز‪ٛ‬س عؼذ‪ ٞ‬اٌّبٌخ‬
‫‪ /‬اٌّذ‪٠‬ش اٌؼبَ ٌّذ‪٠‬ش‪٠‬خ اٌثمبفخ ‪ٚ‬اٌفٕ‪ْٛ‬‬
‫اٌغش‪٠‬بٔ‪١‬خ‪ ،‬األعزبر ثطشط ٘شِض‪ِ /‬ذ‪٠‬ش‬
‫اٌثمبفخ اٌغش‪٠‬بٔ‪١‬خ)‬
‫* ص‪٠‬بسح لٍؼخ اسث‪ٚ / ً١‬اٌّؼشض اٌؾؼج‪ٟ‬‬
‫اٌّ‪ٛ‬ج‪ٛ‬د ف‪ ٟ‬اٌمٍؼخ‬
‫* دع‪ٛ‬س اٌذػ‪ٛ‬ح اٌّمبِخ ف‪ ٟ‬جّؼ‪١‬خ اٌثمبفخ‬
‫اٌىٍذأ‪١‬خ ف‪ ٟ‬ػٕىب‪ٚ‬ا ثّٕبعجخ اسثؼ‪١ٕ١‬خ‬
‫اٌؾبػش ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪ ٞ‬عشج‪ ْٛ‬ث‪ٌٛ‬ظ ‪ ٚ‬اٌٍمبء‬
‫ثبٌؼذ‪٠‬ذ ِٓ اٌؾخص‪١‬بد ٔخص ِٕ‪ ُٙ‬وً ِٓ‬
‫‪:‬‬
‫‪ .1‬اٌمظ ؽّ‪ٛ‬ئ‪ ً١‬ث‪ٙ‬شاَ اٌشاػ‪ ٟ‬اٌغبثك‬
‫ٌىٕ‪١‬غخ ِبس و‪ٛ١‬سو‪١‬ظ ف‪ِٕ ٟ‬طمخ ؽ‪ٛ‬سػ ‪ /‬اسث‪ / ً١‬وٕ‪١‬غخ اٌّؾشق ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪٠‬خ‪.‬‬
‫‪ .2‬اٌمظ ا‪٠‬ؾب‪ ٞ‬دا‪ٚ‬د ساػ‪ ٟ‬وٕ‪١‬غخ ِبس و‪ٛ١‬سو‪١‬ظ ف‪ِٕ ٟ‬طمخ ؽ‪ٛ‬سػ ‪ /‬وٕ‪١‬غخ اٌّؾشق ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪٠‬خ‪.‬‬
‫‪ .3‬اٌغ‪١‬ذ ث‪ٌٛ‬ظ ِبٔى‪١‬ؼ ‪ /‬سئ‪١‬ظ جّؼ‪١‬خ اٌثمبفخ اٌىٍذأ‪١‬خ‬
‫اٌخّ‪١‬ظ ‪2000/12/13‬‬
‫* صجبدب ص‪٠‬بسح لش‪٠‬خ د‪٠‬بٔب ‪ٚ‬ف‪ ٟ‬اٌطش‪٠‬ك‬
‫* اٌ‪ٛ‬ل‪ٛ‬ف ٌجعؼخ دلبئك ػٕذ لش‪٠‬خ لذاعخ اٌجطش‪٠‬شن ِبس دٔخب اٌشاثغ (دسثٕذ‪ٚ‬و‪)ٟ‬‬
‫* ٌمبء اٌمظ ‪٠‬زش‪ٔٛ٠ ْٚ‬بْ دا‪ٚ‬د ‪ /‬ساػ‪ ٟ‬وٕ‪١‬غخ ِبس و‪ٛ١‬سو‪١‬ظ ف‪ ٟ‬لش‪٠‬خ د‪٠‬بٔب‪ /‬وٕ‪١‬غخ اٌّؾشق ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪٠‬خ‬
‫* ص‪٠‬بسح وٕ‪١‬غخ ِبس و‪ٛ١‬سو‪١‬ظ ف‪ ٟ‬د‪٠‬بٔب ‪.‬‬
‫* ص‪٠‬بسح ثٕب‪٠‬خ ِذسعخ اؽ‪ٛ‬سثبْ األثزذائ‪١‬خ ‪ٚ‬ثبٔ‪٠ٛ‬خ ؽّ‪١‬شاَ ‪ٌٚ‬مبء ِذ‪٠‬ش ثبٔ‪٠ٛ‬خ ؽّ‪١‬شاَ األعزبر ا‪٠‬فبْ جبٔ‪ٚ ٟ‬ثؼط‬
‫اٌّذسع‪ٚ ٓ١‬اٌّذبظش‪ ٓ٠‬ف‪ٙ١‬ب ‪.‬‬
‫* ص‪٠‬بسح ثٕب‪٠‬خ ِجٍخ د‪٠‬بٔب اٌفصٍ‪١‬خ د‪١‬ث اعزمجً اٌ‪ٛ‬فذ ِٓ لجً صبدت اِز‪١‬بص اٌّجٍخ اٌمظ ‪٠‬زش‪ٔٛ٠ ْٚ‬بْ ‪ٚ‬سئ‪١‬ظ‬
‫رذش‪٠‬ش٘ب ‪ٚ‬اعشح رذش‪٠‬ش اٌّجٍخ‪.‬‬
‫* ص‪٠‬بسح ِمجشح اٌّشد‪ َٛ‬فشٔغ‪ ٛ‬دش‪٠‬ش‪. ٞ‬‬
‫* ص‪٠‬بسح ِٕطفخ سا‪ٔٚ‬ذ‪ٚ‬ص‪.‬‬
‫* ‪ٚ‬ف‪ ٟ‬اٌّغبء ص‪٠‬بسح ِمش اٌّىزت اٌغ‪١‬بع‪ٌٍ ٟ‬ذشوخ اٌذ‪ّ٠‬مشاغ‪١‬خ ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪٠‬خ ف‪ ٟ‬اسث‪ ً١‬د‪١‬ث اعزمجً ‪ٚ‬فذ األرذبد‬
‫ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪ ٞ‬اٌؼبٌّ‪ ِٓ ٟ‬لجً اٌغبدح ‪-:‬‬
‫‪ٔٛ٠ .1‬بْ ٘‪ٛ‬صا‪٠‬ب ‪ٔ /‬بئت اٌغىشر‪١‬ش اٌؼبَ ٌٍذشوخ اٌذ‪ّ٠‬مشاغ‪١‬خ ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪٠‬خ ‪.‬‬
‫‪ٔ .2‬ضاس دٕب ‪ /‬ػع‪ ٛ‬اٌٍجٕخ اٌّشوض‪٠‬خ ‪ِٚ‬غإ‪ٚ‬ي فشع اسث‪ٌ ً١‬ض‪ٚ‬ػب ‪ /‬اٌّذ‪٠‬ش اٌؼبَ ٌٍزؼٍ‪ ُ١‬اٌغش‪٠‬بٔ‪ٟ‬‬
‫‪ .3‬ادس‪٠‬ظ ِ‪١‬شصا ‪ /‬ػع‪ ٛ‬اٌٍجٕخ اٌّشوض‪٠‬خ ‪ِٚ‬غإ‪ٚ‬ي فشع وشو‪ٛ‬ن ٌض‪ٚ‬ػب‬
‫‪ .4‬اد‪ٚ‬س ثٕ‪١‬بِ‪ٚ / ٓ١‬و‪ِ ً١‬غإ‪ٚ‬ي فشع اسث‪ٌ ً١‬ض‪ٚ‬ػب ‪ِ /‬ذ‪٠‬ش ِذسعخ اسثبئ‪ ٍٛ١‬األثزذائ‪١‬خ‬
‫* ص‪٠‬بسح ِمش دضة ث‪١‬ذ ٔ‪ٙ‬ش‪ ٓ٠‬اٌذ‪ّ٠‬مشاغ‪ ٟ‬د‪١‬ث اعزمجً ‪ٚ‬فذ األرذبد ا‪٢‬ؽ‪ٛ‬س‪ ٞ‬اٌؼبٌّ‪ ِٓ ٟ‬لجً اٌغبدح‪.‬‬
‫‪ .1‬س‪٘ ٛ١ِٚ‬ىبس‪ / ٞ‬عىشر‪١‬ش دضة ث‪١‬ذ ٔ‪ٙ‬ش‪ ٓ٠‬اٌذ‪ّ٠‬مشاغ‪ / ٟ‬ػع‪ ٛ‬ثشٌّبْ الٍ‪ ُ١‬وشدعزبْ‬
‫‪( .2‬صاد‪ٚ‬ق ادَ‪ ،‬جشج‪١‬ظ ‪ٔٛ٠‬بْ‪ ،‬ػبِش دض‪٠‬شاْ‪ /‬اػعبء اٌّىزت اٌغ‪١‬بع‪ٌٍ ٟ‬ذضة)‬
‫* ٌمبء اٌمظ ا‪٠‬ؾب‪ ٞ‬دا‪ٚ‬د ساػ‪ ٟ‬وٕ‪١‬غخ ِبس و‪ٛ١‬سو‪١‬ظ ف‪ِٕ ٟ‬طمخ ؽ‪ٛ‬سػ ‪ /‬اسث‪ ً١‬ف‪ِٕ ٟ‬ضٌٗ ثؼٕىب‪ٚ‬ا‪.‬‬
‫اٌجّؼخ ‪2000/12/14‬‬
‫صجبدب ِغبدسح ‪ٚ‬فذا ا‪٠‬شاْ ‪ٚ‬اعزشاٌ‪١‬ب ػبئذ‪ ٓ٠‬اٌ‪ ٝ‬ثٍذأ‪ُٙ‬‬
‫إن البيان التأسٌسً األول لألتحاد اآلشوري العالمً فً عام ‪ 8691‬فً فرنسا لد وضع إسس النضال‬
‫المومً والحلول لكل الصعوبات والعرالٌل التً تواجه المسٌرة النضالٌة لشعبنا والتً تجسدت فً‬
‫مؤتمراته الالحمة‪ .‬وفً جمٌع طروحاته لسنوات عدٌدة‪ ٬‬سواء من على منابر األمم المتحدة أو لماءاته‬
‫مع رؤساء الدول والحكومات‪ ٬‬طالب اإلتحاد دوما بحموق شعبنا اآلشوري بسرٌانٌه وكلدانٌه وكافة‬
‫التسمٌات المذهبٌة اإلخرى‪.‬‬
‫إن مطالبة اإلتحاد األشوري العالمً بحقوق شعبنا والدفاع المستمٌت عنها‪ ،‬كان السبب لتعرض بعض‬
‫لادته لعملٌة تسمم نفذها عمالء نظام صدام حسٌن‪ ،‬الذٌن حضروا مؤتمر اإلتحاد الذي إنعمد فً سدنً‬
‫ـ أسترالٌا فً سنة ‪.8691‬وتؤذى بسببها العدٌد من عوائل وألارب المادة المﺠﺘمﻌﻴن فً سدنً ‪ ,‬وذلن‬
‫لرفضهم اإلنصٌاع لشروط النظام وإغراﺀاته ‪.‬‬
‫إننا نؤمن بأن الثمافة والتوعٌة المومٌة ستلعب دورا أساسٌا فً تطوٌر النضج المومً الذي بدوره‬
‫سٌكون المادة األساسٌة فً توجٌه السٌاسة الحالٌة ألحزابنا األشورٌة جمعاء ووضعها فً المسار‬
‫الصحٌح‪ ٬‬وﺒالﺘالي الﻰ تﺒﻨي الﺨﻂ الﻨﻀالي الواﻀﺢ ﻋوﻀاً ﻋن ﻣﺴاوﻣﺔ الواﻗﻊ والﺮﻀوﺥ لﺸﺮوﻂﻪ‬
‫الﻣﺼﻂﻨﻌﺔ في حﺸدٍ ﻣن ﻣﻌﻂﻴاﺕ الﺨﻨوﻉ المﺘوارﺛﺔ ‪.‬‬
‫إننا في اإلتحاد األشوري العالمً ندعو الى التعاٌش السلمً فً العراق الجدٌد والى تطبٌك حموق‬
‫اإلنسان حسب الموانٌن الدولٌة ورفع الظلم عن كافة العرالٌٌن‪ ،‬ومنح األشورٌٌن حمهم فً الحكم الذاتً‬
‫فً أرض أشور‪ :‬لٌعٌشوا بعز وكرامة فً أرضهم التارٌخٌة إسوة باألكراد والعرب‪ .‬إننا ال نرضى‬
‫بأٌة وصاٌة على شعبنا‬