AUA Concludes its 26th World Congress
The 26th World Congress of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) was held in Sydney, Australia. Delegates representing Assyrians in Iran, Iraq, Armenia, Russia, USA, Europe and Australia gathered to discuss support for the Assyrian cause.
ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE CONCLUDES ITS 26TH WORLD CONGRESS IN SYDNEY – AUSTRALIA
A total of 60 delegates representing Assyrians in Iran, Iraq, Armenia, Russia, USA, Europe and Australia took part in the 26th World Congress of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) that was chaired by Dr. Wilson Bet Mansour, member of the AUA Advisory Board. They were there to discuss the theme: “Support the prerequisites demands of the Assyrian people of Iraq for an Autonomous Status in the Assyria region and demands of safe return of all Assyrian refugees to this established Assyria Region”. The World Congress concluded its four-day meeting on May 24, 2009 in Sydney, Australia.
The AUA meetings included major discussion both about supporting the demands of the Assyrians in Iraq and about the intensification of their international lobbying and campaigns.
Support for the demands of the Assyrians
In his opening speech, Mr. Betkolia, Secretary General of the AUA and Member of the Iranian Parliament, said to support the Assyrians’ rights and he urged all the official guests to support the Assyrian demand for an autonomous region in their ancestral land of Iraq.
This was later restated by the Iraqi Ambassador, H.E. Ghanim Taha Al-Shibli, who said to support the Assyrian demand. The Iraqi Ambassador said during his speech that “one of the most significant tasks for our government is to get our people back home. The Assyrian people in Iraq are one of the most important component of the Iraqi social and political history, they are indeed the people of Mesopotamia. We are proud of the Assyrian community and expect to be vital player in the new democratic Iraq.” The Ambassador continued by saying that “Let us work closer”.
Lobby for an international campaign
Mr. Hermiz Shahen, Deputy Secretary of the AUA, spoke for international support for the Assyrian cause. He mentioned in his speech that Assyrians’ future in Iraq is dependent on freedom loving countries taking effective measures to resolve our case at an international level. For this reason, he requested the support for the rightful demand of Assyrians for a demarcated geographical autonomous region in their ancestral homeland in Northern Iraq. Also, he asked members of Parliament and Senate to lobby for plans to protect Assyrians and to participate in raising the AUA’s appeal to State, Federal and Senate levels.
Then, the Deputy Secretary showed his gratitude to many friends in the Senate, Federal, State and local government whom for the past six years have helped the AUA and Assyrian cause by presenting the Assyrian case to the Australian government.
Conclusion of the AUA
The AUA meetings continued for three days to conclude on 24th May 2009, with a resolution that calls upon many countries in the Middle East and international community to support the Assyrians demands for autonomous region.
Also, several people were officially honoured with an award. The AUA Australian chapter called on Mr. Betkolia to present the awards on their behalf to the Hon. Chris Bowen MP, Mr. Nenos Khoshaba MP, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, the Hon. David Clarke MLC and to Rev. Fred Nile MLC.
Mr. Shahen then called on His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia to present a special award to Mr. Paul Azzo for his continued support to the Assyrian Universal Alliance and for his extensive efforts and activities to bring the Assyrian community closer to the Australian Federal and State governments.
To view the AUA resolutions click here.
For more information, please click here.
