Architects of the Capitol Plan

This past weekend I was invited to attend an event in Chicago to pay tribute to the Assyrian poet and activist, Ninos Aho.  I met many old faces and some new characters, who both shared a common attitude that evening – that shaking "Mr. Zinda’s" hands followed by a 2-minute conversation may bring one closer to public scrutiny.  I had no idea Zinda had become such a thorn in the eyes of the beholders in the windy city.  One person even asked a ridiculous question:  “So I hear you’ve left Washington (with a smile on his face).”   A few weeks earlier a bogus commentary on the Internet forums had declared Zinda and ISDP in Washington bankrupt, packing their bags, and leaving Washington.  I smiled back and answered: “As long as our people need us, Zinda will be staying in Washington.  Perhaps you should be coming to Washington and give us a hand instead.”

The old centers of the Assyrian political hubbub in the 80’s and 90’s -  Chicago and San Jose – are now the focal points of a bizarre rivalry between two heads of an Assyrian church.  In the last two years, not only was there a split in the Assyrian Church of the East, the Assyrian American National Federation voted itself out of the Assyrian Universal Alliance, and there was a recent split in the Assyrian Democratic Organization’s leadership (in North America).  Even the event this past weekend in Chicago was marred by these nonsensical enmities:  one group within the AUA (where Ninos Aho had been actively engaged in the political dialogue) boycotted the event and another AUA group attended the event with much fanfare and support.  I did not see any ADM members in the room either.  These days our poets and entertainers are also victims of our religious and political biases.  One had to simply listen to the speeches on Sunday and quickly identify the lines of these leanings in our political parties.  Very sad! 

More distressing though is the fact that none of these characters in San Jose and Chicago even matter to what is going on in Iraq and in Washington.   They are what an old mentor of mine, Misha Ashurian in San Jose, used to call the “rotten tree stumps” – roots that no longer have any use and must either be honorably discharged or allowed to self-decay.  Misha is a lot kinder and diplomatic than I when it comes to name-calling.

Fortunately, the politics of the Assyrian nation is now in the hands of a completely different group of organizations actively engaged in the political capitols of the U.S. and the European Union.  In November a new lobbying organization was formed in Europe and a young, energetic Assyrian – Mr. Ninos Warda – was hired to meet the challenges of applying pressures to sway opinions in Europe.  Here in Washington, Mr. Michael Youash, has been doing that on a daily basis since 2003. 

Mr. Youash is the director of the Iraq Sustainable Democracy Project.  Both ISDP and Zinda came to Washington around the same time, soon after the start of the war in Iraq in 2003.  Not long after, another important organization, The Assyria Foundation, directed by Ms. Waleeta Canon, was registered in Washington (see this week's Bravo).  While over two million dollars was being spent on saving three church buildings in California for the ephemeral satisfaction of a few bishops, these three organizations in Washington have been struggling to provide policy, inform the public and the decision makers, and offer humanitarian support and Assyrian learning – all on a trivial budget.   Zinda has learned that now supporters of one or the other camp of the Assyrian bishops and the Patriarch have begun influencing the financial contributors to ISDP – making it difficult to “sustain” a presence in Washington.  The influence of our “churches” in distracting us from our political focus in Washington and in Brussles does not end here.  It is vital then to understand and appreciate the amount of work successfully completed by the individuals and organizations in Washington defending the rights of every Assyrian in the U.S. and in the Middle East.

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The United States Institute of Peace recently hosted the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Omar Fattah, at a public event.  ZINDA attended hoping to learn about the KRG’s feelings on a possible invasion from Turkey, their plans for statehood and the impact of oil deals and oil laws – all matters important to Iraq and by extension, Assyrians.  There was only a short time allowed for questions and many could not be asked. 

Mr. Fattah easily answered question after question – even making witty comments along the way, lightening the mood in the room.  That was except for two questions (the most allowed to participants) from the Iraq Sustainable Democracy Project’s (ISDP) Director, Michael Youash.  The mask of confidence and assuredness broke down – Mr. Fattah flinched, more than once, trying to answer what clearly became the two toughest questions of the morning.

The first question attacked Mr. Fattah’s constant emphasis on the leadership role of the KRG in democratizing Iraq by virtue of its 15 years of experience and fundamental belief in the values of democracy – as he put it.  ISDP asked about the KDP/KRG’s role, through their Peshmerga (Kurdish militia), in denying Assyrians and others the chance of voting and even stuffing ballot boxes in the 2005 elections.  Drawing everyone’s attention to the fact that both the US Department of State and US military both reported the disenfranchisement of the minorities in the Nineveh Plain clearly put Mr. Fattah on the defensive.

His answer was embarrassing, to say the least, responding, “If there was a problem in an election that took place 5, 10 or 15 years ago, we hope to learn from the mistakes that happened, but what is important for us is that we believe all nationalities in the KRG must have their full rights.”  People turned to look at one another quizzically wondering what elections he was referring to and why he refused to even try and explain the role of his government in denying Assyrians the basic right of choosing their own leaders just 2 years ago – in 2005.

Mr. Fattah confirmed to the room that just like any other petty dictatorship, KRG representatives do not intend on even giving thoughtful answers to avoid accountability.  Instead he was content in providing unclear, grandiose lip-service to the principles of democracy and human rights.

ISDP’s second question is what every Assyrian has been asking oneself since KRG Finance Minister Sarkis Aghajan also adopted the 2003 vision of the Assyrian Democratic Movement regarding the Nineveh Plain.  ISDP indicated the agenda of Assyrians in establishing some type of federal unit based on Article 125 of the Constitution of Iraq but that it seemed to conflict with the Article 2(1) of the KRG’s Constitution which calls for the Nineveh Plain to be ‘normalized’ (a KRG term for expanding their boundaries).  Mr. Youash asked him to explain the contradiction between Article 125 and Article 2(1) and concluded “Will these minorities, including the ChaldoAssyrians, as promised by Finance Minister Aghajan, have autonomy within the KRG?”

Mr. Fattah’s response was long winded and paid lip-service to democratic ideas but also included the following statement, “We will give them [Assyrians] the choice to see how they want to be governed, how they want to govern themselves in the KRG” (emphasis added by ZINDA).  But Mr. Fattah’s response continued, and it is in his last remarks that he revealed the KRG’s truest face and intentions. He said, “The problem has also been, that in the political parties that have represented, […] Assyrian and Turkmen political parties have not been able to elect effective leaderships for themselves, and it is not our job to elect their leaders, it is up to those groups and those parties to choose their own leaderships” (a comment made by Mr. Fattah to his translator Qubad Talabani about Sarkis Aghajan was audible but was not translated by Mr. Talabani).

Mr. Fattah’s last comments turned on the lights in everyone’s heads in the room, as his answers came full circle.  He started out by avoiding irrefutable evidence that the KRG denies minorities the chance to elect their own leaders.  He then goes on to indicate that they will be governed by the KRG and within the KRG, but concludes that the KRG feels Assyrians, “have not been able to elect effective leaderships for themselves”.  This is KRG ‘democracy’: they will not let us vote, confirm that autonomy is actually just a plan for absorbing the Nineveh Plain into the KRG, and justify this agenda on the basis that they do not like the leaders we democratically elect – despite their attempts to silence us.

The room was embarrassed for KRG Deputy Finance Minister Omar Fattah, something the audio tapes will never properly convey, but was tangible in the room at the end of his response. 

ZINDA, using the opportunity, approached ISDP’s Michael Youash to get inputs on a number of issues – that is after US Government officials exhausted their questions of him.   Most importantly is the status of the $10 million being budgeted for religious minority internally-displaced persons (IDPs) in the Nineveh Plain.  ZINDA readers will recall that ISDP played the central role in this historic piece of legislation (click here).  Mr. Youash stated, “The $10 million passed by making it into the House report, but the entire budget has yet to pass.  Nothing is certain in Washington, but we are doing all we can.  We are focusing on briefings requested by various offices on this priority and working with numerous government offices on the technical issues of rolling-out the spending and projects for Iraqi minority IDPs in the Nineveh Plain.”

ISDP is also ensuring that the US Government is held transparent, being the primary source of consultation for the policy and language of legislation requiring the US Government to report all spending in the Nineveh Plain (see ISDP press release in this week’s News Digest).  This work is historic in that it made the first reference and direction of a policy focus on the Nineveh Plain.   Our community will hopefully learn to support ISDP’s efforts and the currently undergoing in Washington by the Chaldean Assyrian Syriac Council of America (CASCA) – mentioned in both of ISDP’s press releases.

When asked about community involvement Mr. Youash stated, “Certainly CASCA is mentioned in our release and we also benefit so much from the Assyrian Aid Society in getting us vital information about our peoples’ needs.  Our whole community shares in these successes.  Numerous individual efforts and support from other organizations, both in the Middle East and in the US, played roles in seeing ISDP’s policy research and work go forward in Washington.  It would be impossible to name everyone who made a contribution but we can definitely say this is the result of a community that comes together to work for the common good.”

It is unclear what the overall impact of ISDP’s efforts at engaging KRG representatives in such policy forums will be, or in assisting Washington decision-makers in understanding the challenges Assyrians face throughout Iraq. What is clear is that when given the chance, ISDP is capable of exposing the KRG’s Deputy Prime Minister as a spokesman for tyranny on the one hand and securing a critical focus by the US Government to help our people in critical areas such as the Nineveh Plain on the other.  This is work from which the KRG cannot hide and which our community cannot ignore.

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This past Sunday the CBS news show, “60 Minutes”, aired a segment on the plight of the Iraqi Christians.  The producers of this segment first made contact with the Chaldean Federation of America with a primary focus on Chaldeans and the refugee angle of the story.  In early 2006 they met with ISDP during an ISDP field mission to Iraq.  They maintained contact since, but the show failed to get accepted for production for reasons internal to “60 Minutes”.  The producers, however, maintained interest.  ISDP kept them engaged by informing them of the Washington missions led by the Assyrian politicians arriving from Iraq.

A few months ago ISDP assisted in briefing “60 Minutes” on the unspeakable plight of the Iraqi Christians today and the increased threat of their cleansing from the country. “60 Minutes” also contacted Dr. Donny George in New York, who helped them understand the plight.  At that point “60 Minutes” also made contact with Rev. Canon White who testified to USCIRF when former Minister Pascale Warda, Dr. Donny George and Michael Youash of ISDP testified in July of this year.  Within months the show was produced.

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While ISDP has been diligently meeting demanding schedules in Washington, the Assyrian “collaborators” from North Iraq have also been dignifying our presence in the Capitol with their brief visits.  Mr. Fawzi Hariri, Minister of Industry, as reported by Zinda in mid-January (click here), failed to dispose of the Nineveh Plain Resolution when he met with Rep. Anna Eshoo.  One month after the Congressional testimonies to USCIRF (click here), Mr. George Mansour, another KDP member and Minister of the Civil Society Affairs in the KRG, came to Washington and left empty-handed.  Mr. Mansour runs the Ishtar TV - a Kurdish propaganda satellite television program financed by the KRG.  The KRG was quite displeased. 

This week,  Rev. Emmanul Baito, a priest of the Assyrian Church of the East, cloaking under the pretense of being a director of a humanitarian organization, is knocking on many doors to no avail.  The Assyrian Church of the East re-instated Rev. Emmanuel Baito Youkhana, the brother of the KRG cabinet minister, Nimrod Baito.  The latter is a member of KDP and the Minister for Tourism in KRG.  Of course, the Assyrian Church of the East denies any connection to Rev. Baito’s visit, as did Mr. Praidon Darmo – the acting Secretary General of the AUA – denying any AUA connection to Mr. Fawzi Hariri in January, whome he accompanied in Washington.  Dr. Emmanuel Kamber, former Secretary General of the AUA, resigned his post shortly after this fiasco in Washington and the untimely visit of the AUA officers to Tehran.

All three visitors from North Iraq are Assyrian and work within the Kurdistan Regional Government to undermine any effort in Iraq and abroad for the establishment of an autonomous administrative area for Assyrians in North Iraq.  They come to Washington to influence the Congress and the State Department in pushing for the Kurdish “self-rule” and the Kurdish “control” of the Christian affairs.

Were it not for the facts presented by the ISDP on the violations of the human rights by the KRG and the land thefts under the auspices of the KDP, and the significant relationships built between Mr. Yoash in Washington and the concerned members of the U.S. Congress each of these three trips to DC may have resulted in a calamity for the helpless Assyrians in Iraq.

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Now there is a new player engaged in Washington – the Chaldean Assyrian Syriac Council of America.  CASCA is implementing an aggressive agenda of advocacy and lobbying in the United States, in line with the programs framed here since 2003.   The refugees issue in Syria and Jordan, the Nineveh Plain Resolution, the future emigration policies regarding Iraqi Christians, humanitarian aid to the Assyrians internally displaced in Iraq are just a few of the many challenges that will be on ISDP and CASCA’s plates in DC.  Working together ISDP and CASCA have done much more than any other groups in the U.S. to make our voices heard since the liberation of Iraq.

Our readers can rest assured that Zinda is staying indefinitely in Washington and so are these Assyrian organizations, moving and shaking the foundations of public opinion toward our people.  Your moral, physical, and financial support of our organizations in Washington is needed now more than ever.   Personally, I have always asked for our readers’ generosity during the holiday season for the needy and the helpless.  I have no shame in begging for your assistance this year again in helping our people in Jordan and Syria, and the displaced families in Iraq.  However this year I also ask you to give a little more of your love and include our actively-engaged non-for-profit organizations in Washington – in particular ISDP and the Assyria Foundation.

Plenty of good work is being done in Washington by these incredibly talented and energetic young Assyrians.  They are highly educated, driven, and enthusiastic.  I am very proud of them and so should every concerned Assyrian.  The collaborators from North Iraq and those diverting our attention from the real work ahead of us in America  must be warned that neither these “sparks of hope” nor Zinda Magazine shall rest in the Capitol until the rights of every Assyrian is guaranteed in their homeland, free of any foreign control.

The Assyrian Refugees in Jordan - A Primer

Francis Sarguis
California

For some time, I have wanted to get a closer look at the situation faced by current Assyrian refugees who have fled Iraq. I did not want to travel to the Middle East region without first arranging face-to-face meetings with some of these refugees.  The necessary arrangements were made for a visit to Jordan, thanks to the invaluable assistance of two Assyrian individuals who live in the region. I shall briefly return to them below. 

As we have all heard in the media, there are currently an astounding 4 million Iraqi refugees – two million of them have left the country, and another two million are “internally displaced” (IDPs).  My comments relate solely to the Assyrians, who are a small segment of this total.   

There was a first wave of Assyrian refugees as a result of Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait in 1991, followed by the U.S. coalition offensive which expelled him from that country, and culminating in Hussein’s vengeful rampage against his own population.  I previously met a number of these refugees in early 1993 (in Athens, in Istanbul and the Refugee Camp at Silopi, Turkey, and in North Iraq).  I met still other Iraqi Assyrian refugees on a visit to Syria in 1999.

A second and larger wave of Assyrian refugees fled Iraq as a result of the bloody civil war and anarchy which followed the American invasion in 2003.

In considering the current plight of these thousands of Assyrian refugees, it is useful to consider three general categories:

Assyrian students are taught in classes instructed by Assyrian teachers and volunteers.

(1)  The IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons).  These are Assyrians who could no longer tolerate the perils of life in such places as Basra, Dora, Baghdad, Mosul, etc., and who sought sanctuary while remaining within the borders of Iraq.  To protect life and limb, they fled to the Kurdistan region, where the political climate is generally calm.  Most of these IDPs are a part of the second wave.
         

(2)  A number of Assyrians who have fled Iraq and landed in a neighboring country have managed to secure residency in a Western country.  These Iraqi Christians usually fled from Iraq to Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Greece.  Their ordeal in one of these “sanctuary” countries lasted a number of years, depending on when they would be accepted as permanent residents in a country such as Sweden, Canada, Australia, etc.  Unfortunately, very few of them were able to enter the U.S.  Even though it is the US which is responsible for this refugee disaster, it is also the US which has the poorest  record when it comes to assisting the refugees which it has created. One dramatic statistic:  Sweden, with a population of 8 million, and with no involvement in the Iraq invasion, has accepted some 20,000 Iraqi refugees per year.  The US, with a population well over 300 million, and bearing the sole responsibility for the Iraq invasion, has accepted 600 of these refugees per year.
           

(3)  Thousands of refugees fled Iraq for Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Greece. However, the overwhelming bulk of them will be found in Syria and Jordan. Their future remains in legal limbo in all of those countries.  In some cases, they are holding out hope of being accepted for residency by a Western country.  In other cases, there is little hope of finding a third country for settlement. I met some refugees who had been in Jordan 14 years or more.          

My focus here relates to the third category.  Their leaders asked me to help publicize their plight to the Assyrians in the West, and in any case it is my obligation to do so.

As conditions intensified following the “liberation” of Iraq, Assyrian refugees generally fled to Syria, where the rules of entry were more lax. Jordan was more restrictive from the outset. However, most recently, Syria has been overwhelmed by the refugee influx, and like Jordan it is now requiring an entry visa.  As a result, Syria and Jordan have become equally problematic destinations for the refugees.

The refugees in both Syria and Jordan are undocumented (much like the Mexican illegals in the U.S.).  I did not visit Syria on this trip, but conditions there are more or less similar to those in Jordan.  Some are able to work for cash, and predictably they are grossly underpaid. According to the N.Y. Times (Nov.20, 2007), the unemployment rate in Jordan hovers between 14% and 30%. Therefore, it is not so easy to find work, no matter how low the pay.         

Understandably, both Jordan and Syria view the Iraqi refugees as a drain on their economy, and an unwelcome intrusion into their social fabric. Neither Jordan nor Syria provides any assistance or subsidy to them.  The elderly are particularly vulnerable,  because they are often physically unable to fend for themselves.

In this bleak landscape, it was heartwarming to find considerable humanity and solidarity among the refugees I visited in Amman. More specifically, East Amman has become the “home” for some 500 Assyrian families, as well as about 1,500 Chaldean families. It was explained to me that on average, one must apply a factor of 5 to each family in order to get the approximate population total. (There are also some 3,000 Assyrian families in Syria).   I was also told that many of the IDPs who fled to the north of Iraq still own their properties in Iraq. On the other hand, the refugees in Jordan sold all their possessions before fleeing the country.  By now, they have exhausted their cash, and they are basically penniless.

The Assyrian refugees in Jordan are organized into two communities.  One is the group which follows the “New Calendar” Church of East, with Patriarch Mar Dinkha at its head.  The other comprises members of the “Ancient Calendar” Church of East, with Patriarch Mar Addai at its head.  The first group is approximately twice the size of the second. Each of these groups maintains community activities under the guidance of a governing “Committee”. In separate visits, I was able to meet personally with the 7 or so members serving on each of these Committees.  The Committee for each group receives all contributions, prioritizes the needs, and maintains detailed records of all outlays. 

These two groups have been blessed with special assistance from the Rum Catholic Church in Jordan, which has provided each of them with meeting facilities free of any rent.  The “Ancient Calendar” group functions at the Zahrira Center, an impressive multi-purpose facility. The “New Calendar” group functions at the Nisibin Center; this group organized somewhat later, and it was provided rent-free use of a building which required some remodeling to accommodate classrooms, as well as group activities. 

Although the use of their facilities is shared by other organizations, each of these Assyrian groups has organized classes teaching our mother tongue, and they have also organized computer instruction.  Assyrians from Dubai have donated new computers. At this time, each group has many needs.  For example, one group is without any heaters in its teaching facilities; the other group is hoping to do minor upgrades of the recreation facility for its youth. Mr. Emanuel Kelaita of Dubai personally donated $4,500 to the refugee groups to help upgrade the teaching facilities. Notwithstanding such individual acts of generosity, few of the needs will be met, and both of the Committees have prioritized their spending in the following order:  (1) Urgent medical care; (2) Widows and elderly without support; (3) Special needs in large families.

Only a modest amount of charitable help is provided by international non-profit organizations, such as Caritas.  I am sorry to say that the Assyrian diaspora community, with rare exception, has remained distant and unmoved.  For this reason, I want to list the names of diaspora Assyrians and groups who have donated to the refugee Committees. These names are based on the notes taken during my visit. Although every one who has helped the refugees deserves our thanks, I am assuming that the list below does not represent everyone who has assisted. Any such omission on my part is inadvertent, and I apologize for it. I do not claim to take perfect notes.  Moreover, the refugee committees themselves are normally not in a position to know about contributions, except for those which are directed to them:  

• Bishop Mar Bawai was a pioneer fundraiser for the refugees. Since 2001, he has delivered some $40,000 to the Assyrians in Jordan and Syria.  I understand that he continues in his efforts today.

• Bishop Mar Bawai also raised an additional $31,450 from three Asssyrian churches in Chicago. The Assyrian Aid Society (AAS-A) and Mr. Sargon Shabbas transmitted these funds to Amman on behalf of the Bishop.  My notes indicate that $20,000 of this was distributed to the Assyrian Refugee Committees in Jordan and Syria; $10,450 in refugee aid to the Chaldean Church in Amman, and $1,000 as a special donation to a sick Assyrian woman in Amman.

• The Assyrian Foundation of America (based in Berkeley, California) sent thousands of dollars directly to the Assyrian refugee committees.  More recently the AFA has continued its contributions, delivered first through Mr. Sargon Shabbas ($10,000), and more recently through Ms. Sue Odah.

• Bishop Mar Narsai of Beirut provided $1,200 in support of the Assyrian priest who was then in Amman, awaiting emigration to Canada.

• Bishop Mar Melis of Australia provided $900 to the Amman refugees.
• Several other diaspora priests have sent amounts ranging from $100 to $300.
• More modest contributions have also been provided by several individuals.  Caroline Pera, Sargon Murano, and Evelyn Odisho are three such persons, and there may be others.

• The Assyrian community in Dubai may be small in numbers, but it has shown a big heart towards the refugees.

• The CAPNI organization in Germany.  This year, they delivered  €10,000 (Euros) for the benefit of the ‘New Calendar’ church in Amman.

• On his visit to Amman In July 2007, Qasha Jamil of Chicago personally delivered $16,250 to the Assyrian Committee of the New Calendar, in the name of Patriarch Mar Dinkha.

• Two individuals I mention below -- Mr. Toma Youkhana and Mr. Aprim Shapera -– have made generous financial donations to the refugees, in addition to devoting many volunteer hours on their behalf.   Other members of the Youkhana and Shapera family have also contributred.           

It is fitting here to offer special recognition to the Assyrian Foundation of America, an organization founded a number of years ago by Aprim Sayad, Catherine Pickering and Sam Jacob.  The AFA was richly blessed some 10 years ago by a major bequest from the estate of Benjamin S. Adams.  While Mr. Adams in his Will provided for some minor bequests without imposing any conditions, he gave the substantial part of his estate to 6 Assyrian organizations, and imposed specific conditions on the use of these monies. His  conditions require the funds to be used for two purposes, and for no other:  (1) Aid to Assyrian refugees; and (2) to Help for Assyrian children’s education.

Allow me to digress briefly on this point, because some readers may not be familiar with the subject.  These six conditional bequests amounted to well in excess of one million dollars.  The six Assyrian organizations were to divide the monies in the following proportion:.

• 25% to the Assyrian Foundation (of California)
• 20% to the Assyrian Aid Society (offices in California)
• 15% to the Assyrian American National Federation
• 15% to the Assyrian Council of Illinois
• 15% to the Assyrian Welfare Society (in Chicago)
• 10% to the Assyrian Club of Southern California

Assyrian refugees students in front of the Nisibin School in Amman.

Clearly, the refugee challenge in Jordan and in Syria may be the largest disaster to have befallen our people since the arrival of the Adams bequests.  And if ever there was a need for these funds to be applied to the twin purposes specified by Mr. Adams, surely the vulnerable refugees in Jordan and Syria fit that purpose perfectly.

I consider the contributions sent to these refugees by the Assyrian Foundation as a sign of respect for the trust Benjamin Adams placed in this organization.  But when I scan the list of those who have sent help to the refugees, I am disappointed that I have not found the name of the five other organizations who received cash from the Adams Will.      

Is this a case of organizations who have deliberately failed to step forward with refugee aid at this time of critical need?  Some of these groups are little more than “paper organizations” with no membership, and a small governing board accustomed to conducting their affairs in secret.  I am familiar with this wall of secrecy because I ran into it when I was preparing a series of articles for Zinda, to inform Assyrians about the ramifications of the Adams legacies.

Such small-mindedness aside, the Adams funds were not given as a blank check to these groups. As I wrote at the time, these funds were placed in their hands as trustees, and they have a solemn obligation to spend them for the purpose they were intended. It would be a welcome gesture for these five other groups to submit a comment to Zinda explaining whether they have been assisting our refugees in the Middle East and, if so, to what extent. This cannot be called a private matter.  It is a matter of interest and of concern to our community at large.

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It is possible that some potential contributors are not sure how to transmit funds to the refugees in Jordan and Syria. Let me cite at least three ways (and no doubt there are other means as well) in which funds from the diaspora can be sent to the refugees. The key person in two of these options is a most dedicated Assyrian named TOMA R. YOUKHANA.

One method is to deliver the cash to Mr. Youkhana who will provide a thorough accounting.

A second  method is to do a wire transfer to Mr. Youkhana’s special bank account in Jordan.

For any contributor who insists on being “hands-on” with a donation, he or she can deliver the funds personally or via a friend or relative who is traveling to these countries.

As to funds which are sent to Mr. Toma Youkhana, he records them meticulously  (noting all receipts and corresponding disbursements), and any interested Assyrian can examine his bookkeeping.

Mr. Youkhana was educated as an engineer in Baghdad, where he was an active businessman who found it necessary to flee with his family in 1991, in the wake of the first Gulf War. He continues to pursue his business from Amman, as an Iraqi émigré. Being one of the few Assyrians who was able to establish permanent resident status in Jordan, he is able to maintain a bank account in the country. 
While some of the earlier overseas donations were delivered directly to the refugee groups, increasingly contributions have been routed to Mr. Youkhana, because he can provide the best accounting of their use. Where the contributor earmarked the funds for a special purpose, Mr. Youkhana sees to it that this is carried out.  Otherwise, the contributed funds are promptly turned over to the two Assyrian groups, whose Committees make the spending decisions.  Contributions which are wired directly to Mr. Youkhana’s bank should be sent as follows:

            Account Name:  TOMA R. YOUKHANA
            Account No.:       202 539
            Bank:                  Union Bank for Saving & Investment
            Bank Branch:     Al-Swefia Branch
            P.O. Box:           35104   Postal / 11180 – Amman - JORDAN

Mr. Youkhana may also be contacted personally in any of the following ways:
            By Post:           P.O. Box 851058
                                      Amman  11185  Jordan
            Telephone:      as if a US domestic call:  (1) (646) 652-0417
                                      or Roaming Cell No. 0096279-6969079
            Email:               tomayoukhana@hotmail.com

Assyrian refugees in Jordan and Syria alike lavish praise on Mr. Youkhana for his personal efforts.  I have personally relied on him myself both with the wire transfer method and the personal delivery method, and I can attest that in both approaches he performed admirably, as expected of a professional. Mr. Youkhana’s meticulous  record-keeping, coupled with the accounting practiced by two Committees, assures great transparency.

A second person who has been pivotal in this drama is Mr. Aprim Shapera of England, currently employed in Dubai. He is a graduate of Baghdad University in Political Science, where he also earned a Master’s Degree. Mr. Shapera is a frequent lecturer and writer on contemporary Assyrian issues. He has been a tireless advocate of the refugees’ cause.  Teaming with Mr. Emanuel Kelaita, a prominent Assyrian businessman in Dubai, the two of them have inspired the small Assyrian community in that Emirate to raise and deliver aid through the auspices of Mr. Youkhana. Both of these persons have made several visits to the refugees of Syria and Jordan, and they are intimately familiar with refugee conditions.  Both continue to seek new sources of aid.

In the center are Mr. Aprim Shapira (with dark glasses) and the author, Mr. Francis Sarguis (to the right of Mr. Shapira).  Mr. Shapira and Mr. Sarguis are flanked by the members of the committee that looks after the activities and affairs of the Assyrians who are from the Assyrian Church of the East (New Calendar) community. The committee is also called "Nisibin".

                                                                                                                  * * *

As I pondered the financial woes of the Assyrian refugees in Amman, I was told by them that they had seen a number of Assyrians visitors from the diaspora, especially from the church ranks.  However, I got the impression that they did not consider most of these visits meaningful, because they seemed more along the line of photo opportunities rather than substantive in nature. Bishop Mar Bawai was seen as an exception, in that he has actively raised funds in the U.S. over a period of time, and he continues in this effort. 

My visit was uplifting and depressing, both at the same time. I wondered why the diaspora Assyrian community has generally remained so aloof from this disaster, and our many compatriots who are in such dire need.  I know that this inaction is not for lack of ability. Who can deny the lavish sums many of us are quick to spend at Conventions and at gala events. And isn’t it amazing how our people dig deep into their wallets in order to wage a judicial battle, but don’t seem much motivated to help our hungry and poor in their hour of great need.

                                                                                                                  * * *

On my return from this trip, I was interested to learn what sums had been spent by the opposite parties in the current intramural tug-of-war within the Church of the East (sometimes known as Dinkha vs. Bawai, or is it the other way around?). I spoke to a key person on each side of this joust, and according to what they told me, the two sides have now spent in excess of $2,000,000 in combined legal fees.  Of course, the fight has not ended, and yet more legal fees will be incurred by both sides.  

Recently, there was some loud cheering from one side when a judge issued an Order disposing of an important issue.  Apparently, the other side will not appeal this adverse ruling. However, this Order has not put an end to the judicial process.  Barring an out-of-court settlement on the remaining issues, the tussle will continue, and we can expect to see more good money thrown down the rat hole.
An out-of-court settlement would require calm minds and a spirit of reconciliation. But in a jihad (Christian or otherwise) brotherly love and common sense are rare commodities. Sadly, as I heard said from one of the concerned Assyrians in Jordan, regardless of what the Court ultimately decides, there will be no winner. One can only imagine how much good could be done on behalf of the refugee community if the diaspora were to devote a mere fraction of these sums to their cause.

                                                                                                                  * * *

How much money could be raised at the annual AANF convention, if done aggressively and with imagination?  This organization was created in America out of the tragedy of Simel in 1933.  Today’s refugee crisis is the most momentous one in our time, and it cries for our people and organizations to step forward, to demonstrate some resolve and commitment.

                                                                                                                  * * *

At the personal level, I am most familiar with the Turlock-Modesto Assyrian communities.  The Assyrian American Civil Club of Turlock (AACCOT) is one of the largest and best funded groups in the diaspora.  What commitments has it made in support of its fellow Assyrians in Jordan and Syria?  Up the road in Ceres, we have an organization which claims a commitment to Assyrianism second to none. Not so many years ago, its leader received a large monetary settlement from the previous Iraqi government. It was my understanding that he had personally pledged to use these funds “on behalf of the Assyrian people.”   What is he waiting for?  To my knowledge, desperate refugees in Jordan and Syria have yet to receive any support from the Bet Nahrain organization.

The 8-member committee shown here looks after the activities and affairs of the Assyrians who are from the Ancient Assyrian Church of the East (Old Calendar) community. The committee is also called "Zahrira" or the "Ray of the Sun".

                                                                                                                  * * *

No doubt there are Assyrians in the diaspora who object that large numbers of their fellow Christians have fled Iraq, and have placed themselves in this current predicament. Some of them living comfortably in America or other Western venues do not want to do anything to promote Assyrian depopulation in Iraq. Of course, many of these same diaspora Assyrians had themselves abandoned the “homeland” in pursuit of tranquility and opportunity, neither of which they could realize in Iraq. Readers of this report should  know that 99.9% of those who have abandoned Iraq have no intention whatever of returning there.  This was the firm position of the refugees I met 14 years ago who lived in the rat holes of Istanbul, and it is the same position of the more recent refugees of Syria and Jordan.  All of them have dreams, just as we dreamt before them.  Those in the diaspora who have genuine compassion for their brothers and sisters left in limbo should not withhold their help on the grounds that this encourages our people to leave Iraq.  Be assured that it was not the hope of receiving some meager charity that drove these refugees to abandon their possessions and their home.  They were fleeing for their lives and they should be viewed as the helpless victims that they are.

Surely there is no greater test in one’s religious faith and no higher value in one’s moral code than to aid and comfort the afflicted, and to extend a hand to our compatriots in need.  It is urgent that we open our hearts and our pocketbooks.  Better late than never.

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Corinthians 13:13

Mr. Francis Sarguis is a retired Assyrian attorney and lives in Santa Barbara, California.

Kidnapped Assyrian Monk Released in Turkey

Courtesy of the Bianet
3 December 2007
By Erhan Üstündag

Fr. Daniel Savci

(ZNDA: Mardin)  The Kidnapped Assyrian monk, Edip Daniel Savci, 43, was released on Friday 30 November.   Rabban Savci, a monk in the Syriac Orthodox Church, runs the Mor Yacub (St. James) Monestary in the city of Midyat in the Mardin Province.  The Monastary has two monks and 4 nuns.  12 Assyrian students study in this monastary.

Rabban (Friar) Savci was kidnapped on the way from the city of Mardin to his village of Baristepe in the Midyat district.  The kidnappers demanded 300,000 Euros (US$445,000) for his release.

He was released in the city center of Batman, a neighbouring province, three days after he was kidnapped.  Police have since his kidnapping arrested five suspects:  Abdurrahman Oral, Mehmet Emin Oral, Şefik Oral, Halil Esen and Zeynel Karaman. Police are still seeking two suspects. The suspects belong to a cigarette-smuggling and racketeering gang lead by Abdurrahman Oral, police say.

Rabban Savci described his arrest in the following: "I went shopping to Midyat and on my return, a vehicle coming from the opposite direction blocked the road.  As the people in the car were getting out, another car approached me from behind. When they too got out of the car, I realized they had bad intentions. They wanted me to go with them. When I struggled against them, they punched me. Some of them were armed. I was so frightened I got into their car. We were a total of 5 in the car now. They drove me around until midnight. At one point I was taken out of the car and put in a minibus. Then they took me to a house, and hid me in the stables. On watching the news of my abduction, one of them said, “The situation is bad”. Four of them argued over letting me go. They were repentant. The following day, the owner of the house saw a photograph of me on television and realized I had been abducted. That man and a youth released me when the other two were not around.”

After being released, Priest Savcı was greeted by both Syriac Christians and Muslims with cheerful drum and horn music.

Rabban Savci was asked to identify five people in detention in Batman. As he left the police department, Savci said that he was able to convince a young man to release him after two other kidnappers left the house.   Savci denied that a ransom had been demanded and declared that because of his religious convictions he had not filed a complaint against the kidnappers. “I still do not know why I was kidnapped."

On Sunday many Assyrians gathered to give thanks in the Mar Yaqub Monastary during a Mass given by Savci and Metropolitan Samuel Aktas of the Syriac Orthodox Church.

“I forgive those who kidnapped me. I want everyone to forgive them too,” said Savci

ADM Statement on PUK Chief Relations Officer's Comments

Sargon Lazar
Public Relations, Director
Assyrian Democratic Movement

For Immediate Release
19 November 2007

We are deeply puzzled by what Mullah Bakhtyar, the Chief Relations Officer of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan said in an interview with Al-Mallaf Press that: "people have the legal right in declaring a region or country of their own if they possess historic and geographical land. Turkmans and Chaldo-Assyrians are residents in Kurdistan and have the rights of full citizenship; but cannot own any land because there are not any Turkman or Chaldo-Assyrian land in Kurdistan or in Iraq."

Such statements are absolutely unacceptable and describe and reflect undemocratic attitudes that are influenced by the past governing regimes.  This statement reflects a totalitarian and nation- melting culture that excludes other nations. This is not what we expect from a prominent officer in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, a partner with a leading role in the national unity, a partnership in the development of pluralism and freedom concepts in Iraq.

The Chaldean Syriac Assyrian nation does not need an introduction on their history as the indigenous people of Iraq, in spite of our recent decline in population in Iraq and for known reasons which permit futile attempts for ethnic marginalization and scare practices. These tactics are an excuse to seize our legitimate national rights.

As for the alleged non-existence of the ChaldoAssyrian land, all we have to do is take a look at the history of Mesopotamia, and we will find that all of Mesopotamian land, Kurdistan included, is the inheritance of the Assyrian Babylonian Civilizations. If we were to look at the people that are most loyal and feel the sense of belonging to their roots in the homeland (Iraq) undisputedly we will find that Chaldean Syriac Assyrian nation is an ever proud nation of its history and culture, who are deeply rooted in Iraq's land and are not "resident guests" as described by Mr. Bakhtyar, for the owner of a house can never be a guest in his own house.

We are confident that Mr. Bakhtyar's statement does not reflect the views of the leadership of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

Mar Delly Says Security for Christians Improving in Iraq

Mar Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, gave a press conference in Rome on Nov 23.

Delly, one of 23 Roman Catholic leaders recently elevated to the position of cardinal by the pope, told Italy-based news agency Adnkronos International (AKI), "The security situation in Iraq is improving for everyone, including us Christians."

"Christians in Iraq are not separated from other members of society so if the security situation improves, everyone will benefit."

In the interview, Delly spoke of the importance of unity in Iraq and of the cohesion between the diverse groups in the country.

Approximately 70 percent of Christians in Iraq are part of the Chaldean community., which recognizes the authority of the pope despite being aligned with eastern rite churches and having its own liturgy and leadership. The Chaldean Church is also found in other parts of the world including the United States, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Australia.

Mar Delly told a group of reporters that he is urging Iraqi Christians who have fled the country in the wake of the high levels of violence to return home.    He made the appeal at the Vatican as he was preparing to be inducted as Iraq’s first Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI.  

He told reporters that his elevation to cardinal was an ‘honour for all Iraqis, and not just Christians.’ He added that he would use his new position "to convince those who have left Iraq to return and help build the country."

On the subject of inter-religious dialogue, Delly said, "I hope that the Vatican continues to speak to other religions.

“Our objective is not to proselytize but to collaborate and live together with others," he added.

During a meeting late last month of the world's Catholic cardinals, Cardinal Walter Kasper, who serves as president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, briefed the cardinals on relations with other Christians, focusing on the church's relations with the Orthodox, Protestants and Pentecostal movements.

AAS Medicines Reach Arbil, Iraq

Michael E Bradley, Administrator, AAS-A
T: 510-527-9997
F: 510-527-6633
administrator@assyrianaid.org

For Immediate Release
29 November 2007

At 1 PM local time on Sunday November 11 in Erbil, Iraq, nearly 700 pounds of requested medicines were received by the Assyrian Aid Society - Iraq for immediate distribution to it's free pharmacies in Northern Iraq.

In the photograph above, crates of medicine are being offloaded in Dohuk.

The medicines, valued at US$92,500, were purchased for only US$7400 (approximately eight cents on the dollar) by AAS-A via MAP International, a Christian health organization in Brunswick, Georgia, and the International Dispensary Association Foundation in the Netherlands.

AAS-A Medical Director Dr. Alex Malick coordinated this project from Sacramento, California.

The Assyrian Aid Society of America is a charitable organization recognized by the State of California and the government of the United States of America, dedicated to assisting needy Christian Assyrians in Northern Iraq and around the world. Over the past 15 years AAS-A has raised over $4 million to, with its sister organization, the Assyrian Aid Society – Iraq, to build schools, staff and supply medical clinics, facilitate life-saving surgeries, rebuild homes, irrigate farmlands, bring electricity to villages, and implement a host of other vital programs and services.

Something seems out of place in this small Kurdish village.

First, there are the low-slung homes with the pastel exteriors - yellows and pinks - that scream for attention against the rugged backdrop of pine trees and mountain peaks. Then, up on a hill, sits a church with a squat steeple. But it's the cross reaching toward the magnificent blue sky that stands out in this predominantly Muslim country.

The Assyrian Catholic Church serves 32 families who fled the violence of Baghdad for the relative calm and security of the Kurdish region in northern Iraq. The homes are among more than 5,000 units in 100 Christian settlements across Dahuk province in the Kurdish region.

The Kurdish regional government has financed the developments in hopes of providing Christians with a haven.

"When I came here, I just started building," said Patrice Isaac Peto, an Assyrian Catholic who left his house and business in Baghdad two years ago. "I didn't know someone was going to help us."

The Kurdish government has financed the construction of at least 5,000 houses in 100 Christian settlements across Dahuk province, including in the village of Teena, Iraq.

Further north in the town of Gedeky, Ischa Zaya Sliwa explains the circumstances that drove him from Baghdad. After earning $400 a month for three years as a chef with an American-run company, Sliwa, 52, said local Shiite militiamen persuaded him to quit his job.

"They weren't bad guys, they just threatened me," said Sliwa, who added that some militiamen will "kill you without any warning."

After reluctantly abandoning their cramped apartment in August 2006, Sliwa, his wife and three daughters moved 260 miles north to the city of Dahuk before driving another three hours to Gedeky last November. They have since settled into their new three-bedroom house.

"We were offered a free house in a safe place," Sliwa said. "It was difficult not to accept."

But the charitable gesture is not without controversy.

Increasingly, critics and some political analysts contend these Christian communities are part of an effort to strengthen the Kurdish region's ever-growing autonomy from Iraq's central government in Baghdad by diversifying its population.

Franso Mattey, a private contractor who has overseen much of the building in Dahuk, said funding for the projects comes directly from the Kurdish government, which also provides monthly stipends of roughly $80 to an estimated 7,000 Christian families who now live here.

Mattey said his engineers design and construct homes at an average cost of $17,000 to $20,000, but he steadfastly maintains his mission is a humanitarian one.

"We just want to help the people," he said, arguing that the Kurdish government also has provided funding to rebuild 30 Muslim villages in Dahuk. "There are no political parties involved."

While that may be true, critics are also quick to note that the man leading the project is Sarkis Aghajan Mamendo, an enigmatic Iraqi Assyrian politician who is currently finance minister in the Kurdish regional government.

Mamendo, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, also backs the Ishtar satellite TV network, where he is often seen shaking hands with constituents, members of the clergy and other government leaders. But he rarely, if ever, speaks publicly. Multiple requests for interviews sent to his offices elicited no reply.

Mamendo's efforts have made him famous among Christians around the world. In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI awarded him the Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, one of the Vatican's highest commendations in recognition of his work on behalf of Iraq's Christians.

The Christian building boom in the Kurdish region began in the late 1990s with a U.N. program that funded reconstruction of villages leveled under Saddam Hussein's government. Yelda Guywailgese's house was one of 20 in Gedeky that was blasted to the ground in 1988.

"They even took the bricks," said Guywailgese, a 60-year-old farmer, referring to Iraqi soldiers who dynamited his house and doused his apple orchard and tomato field with acid.

In 2001, Guywailgese and the other villagers returned to reconstruct their homes with U.N.-provided materials.

Today, this Christian village has risen from the ashes and expanded to more than 30 houses and 250 people. Among the newcomers are many families from Baghdad who were lured with free housing.

Despite the peaceful new life, Kurdish officials may not be able to keep everyone in the region. Several of the rebuilt and newly constructed villages lack health clinics and schools, though all have at least one church.

"The first thing needed is a church, but so many families have come here with children so now we need a school," said Guywailgese.

For those who have relocated to the north from Baghdad, the transition is often trying.

Peto, who shuttered his shoe factory after it was looted a second time in 2005, has found no work. The 64-year-old businessman has turned to harvesting tomatoes and apples, and selling wood for a living.

In the meantime, Peto's 21-year-old son, Fadi, has delayed his studies because he doesn't speak Kurdish, the region's official language that is predominantly spoken in classrooms of most universities.

The winding roads running into Teena are sometimes impassable, trapping residents and barring the priest from making his 30-mile trip to perform Mass weekly at the village's church.

"Life is difficult here," Peto said.

Back inside his new house in the rebuilt village of Gedeky, Sliwa said he wanted to leave Iraq because of "too many bad days." The deployment of Turkish troops along the border with Turkey, an hour's drive north of Teena, is also troubling.

The Turks are poised for a cross-border offensive against the Kurdistan Workers Party, which has been fighting for autonomy for Turkish Kurds since 1984 in a conflict that has killed nearly 40,000 people.

Yet, Sliwa, a former prisoner of war during Iraq's conflict with Iran in the 1980s, promised he would someday return to Baghdad once the security situation is restored.

"I returned home once," Sliwa said, referring to his internment in Iran. "Maybe I'll return home again."

Baghdad Museum will Re-open Before Year End

Courtesy of the Sunday Times
25 November 2007
By Jon Swain

(ZNDA: Paris)  Almost five years after it was ransacked by hordes of looters in the wake of Saddam Hussein’s overthrow, the Iraq museum in Baghdad is about to open its doors again.

The museum, famous for priceless antiquities representing the world’s earliest civilisation, is scheduled to open next month, according to its acting director, Amira Emiran.

Visits will be confined to just two galleries on the ground floor containing Assyrian and Islamic treasures that are too large and heavy to be easily removed. The remaining 16 galleries will remain empty and closed and security will be tight.

Nevertheless, Iraqi and American officials are keen to portray the opening as a sign that security in Baghdad has improved after the chaos of the past few years.

Emiran announced the opening at a gathering of experts at the United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organisation (UNESCO) in Paris to discuss measures to save Iraq’s antiquities from looting and destruction, according to The Art Newspaper.

A UNESCO official said: “Dr Emiran announced that the museum would be opening in December. But even if she says it is going to open, this has to be treated with some circumspection. The situation is so volatile.”

The Assyrian Hall has monumental sculptures, including stone panels from the royal palace at Khorsabad and two winged bulls. The other large gallery that is opening, the Islamic Hall, has the eighth century mihrab from the Al-Mansur mosque in Baghdad. It is also hoped to display 10 monumental Parthian sculptures from Hatra in the courtyard which links the two galleries and through which visitors will pass.

The decision was welcomed by Matthew Bogdanos, a colonel in the US Marine Corps reserves, who investigated the theft and destruction of thousands of artefacts from the museum and from thousands of Iraq’s poorly protected historic sites where looting has been conducted “on an industrial scale” since the war.

Bogdanos, a New York prosecutor, said: “I don’t know if there is any such thing as a right or wrong moment to open the museum. But great things are won by great risk and the museum should open and it should stay open. If it means doubling security, then double security.”

The ransacking of the museum in April 2003 in the aftermath of the US invasion provoked worldwide outrage. American soldiers were criticised for watching as looters, taking advantage of the Iraqi government’s collapse, plundered the building.

“It was as if a hurricane had hit,” said Donny George, the museum director at the time, describing his return to the museum after it had been plundered. “What the looters could not take, they smashed.”

Some 15,000 items vanished. In time, some priceless objects were recovered, including the 5,200-year-old sacred vase of Warka, the world’s oldest-known carved-stone ritual vessel, which was returned in the back of a car.

Bogdanos believes the smuggling of antiquities from Iraq helped to fund the insurgency. He recalled that in one raid in 2005 in Anbar province, northwest of Baghdad, marines captured a group of insurgents in an underground bunker and found arms and a chest of more than 30 stolen museum items.

About 10,000 pieces remain missing despite a worldwide hunt; they include the 8BC ivory plaque of a lioness attacking a Nubian, which is inlaid with lapis and carnelian and overlaid with gold.

The museum was founded by Gertrude Bell, the legendary British archaeologist and explorer, in 1923. It was considered one of the finest in the Middle East but was rarely open to the public during most of the last 20 years of Saddam Hussein’s rule.

George, the renowned director, who is a Christian, fled Iraq following death threats in August last year. Before he left he sealed the museum entrance with a 3ft-thick wall of bricks and concrete to keep out thieves.

George yesterday questioned whether it was the right time to reopen the museum. “If it was me I would not open it,” he said. “The priceless artefacts inside are safe from theft or destruction so long as the museum remains sealed.”

Tehran Galleries Display Hannibal Alkhas' Paintings

A painting by Hannibal Alkhas

(ZNDA: Tehran)  Several paintings by the Assyrian-Iranian artist, Hannibal Alkhas, were on display at the Baran Gallery in Tehran between November 17 and 29..

The paintings reflect nearly 60 years of the modernist artwork from several phases of Mr. Alkhas' life.

Hannibal Alkhas is the son of the Assyrian writer, Adai Alkhas, and was born in 1930 in Kermanshah, Iran.  He is currently living in the U.S. and was unable to travel to Iran for this exhibit due to poor health.

Mr. Alkhas dispatched 40 of his latest works to Iran to be showcased at the Elaheh Gallery in June 2007.

Until December 17 Hannibal Alkhas' artwork will be on display at the Museum of Fine Arts of the Sadabad Complex, where bout 800 artworks by veteran and young painters and sculptors will be showcased during the exhibit.

In October of this year, the Iranian Academy of Arts in Tehran informed the public of its intention to purchase a collection of artworks painted by Iranian Christian artists.   Among these paintings are artwork by Mr. Alkhas. 

The paintings, which are to be bought by the end of the Persian calendar year (March 2008), will first be displayed at a special exhibition organized by the Academy.  

According to IAA a national art museum under its auspices will house this collection.  

Mr. Sohrabi, the IAA director, noted that " this exhibit will provide a long-awaited opportunity for Christian artists to display their work and have it publicly appraised... We have many great masters amongst our Christian community and we must create this opening for them to make their mark by showcasing their art."

Mr. Sohrabi, according to Mehr News went on to say: “Works by contemporary artists such as Hannibal Alkhas, Marcos Grigorian, Sirak Melkonian and many others with whom we are less familiar will be on display in the exhibit." 

On the acquisition of the collection, Mr. Sohrabi explained, “It is part of our mandate to negotiate for the purchase of artworks with Christian and Assyrian art centers in Iran as well as with the churches. We will also accept donations from collectors in the sphere of Christian art."

Mongolian-era Christian Cemetery Discovered Near Soltanieh

Courtesy of the Mehr News
3 December 2007

(ZNDA: Tehran)  A Christian cemetery dating back to the Mongol era has recently been discovered near the Soltanieh Dome, an Islamic monument registered on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.  Soltaniyeh, situated in the Zanjan Province of Iran, some 240 km to the north-west from Tehran, used to be the capital of Ilkahate (Ilkhnid) rulers of Persia in the 14th century.

A single gravestone bearing ancient script led a team of experts from the Soltanieh Dome Cultural Heritage Center to the discovery of the burial ground, the Persian service of CHN reported on 3 December.

The artifact was unearthed by the team about two years ago during a demarcation operation for the dome site. “We were assisted in the deciphering of the script by a number of Christian historians. After examining the relic, they informed us that the artifact dates back to the Mongol era and that it was highly likely that a cemetery dating back to that time would be located in the vicinity,” the center executive manager Mohammadreza Qorbanzadeh said.

A translation of the inscription reads as follows: “Jesus, the only Son of the Father, when it is time to return, the sleeping soul of the late…” Other parts of the inscription are illegible due to erosion. “The cemetery, which is located near the Abbasabad region of the Soltanieh Dome and the ancient city of Soltanieh will add to our knowledge of the history of these sites,” Qorbanzadeh said.

The Mongol ruler Hulagu Khan (c. 1217-1265), who founded the Ilkhanid dynasty in Iran, selected the north central region of Iran for his center of government. Hulagu’s mother, Sarkutti Baji, showed an inclination towards the Christian religion and as a result many Christian residents of Tabriz emigrated to Soltanieh (location of present day Zanjan), being an area over which he ruled.    Hulagu's wife, Dokuz Khatun, was a Christian member of the Church of the East.

In addition, Marco Giovanni Brambilla, an Italian professor at Tehran’s Shahid Beheshti University, during his studies on the city of Soltanieh, had previously surmised the existence of a Christian Mongol era cemetery in the region.

Look for an upcoming book in 2008 entitled "Early Christian Remains of Inner Mongolia" published by Brill.  For content and the breadth of its coverage click here.

Assyrian Lobbyist Hired for Work in Brussels

The Assyria Foundation
Netherlands

Press Release
November 11, 2007

Following the opening and advertising of a vacant Assyrian lobbyist position in Brussels, the Assyria Foundation of the Netherlands is happy to announce that Mr. Ninos Warda from London, United Kingdom, has been selected to fulfil this role.

Mr. Ninos Warda, the newly-selected Assyrian lobbyist in Brussels, and Ms. Attiya Gamri, an Assyrian-Dutch politician.

Following the successes of the Iraq Sustainable Democracy Project (ISDP) in Washington, which has been in operation since April 2005 and has lobbied for the Assyrian rights in Iraq, and taking into account the increasingly important role the European Union will have in the future of Iraq, a similar role as that of the ISDP has been created in Brussels so that there may also be a full-time lobbyist working in Europe, and more particularly within the various institutions of the European Union.

Dr. Matay beth Arsan of the Assyria Foundation of the Netherlands wishes to express his gratitude for the various people who applied for the position and is happy that the Assyrians in the Diaspora now have a growing number of intellectual and motivated Assyrian youth who can use their knowledge and expertise for the benefit of their nation. It is hoped that all applicants who applied for the role can aid in the successes and the benefits which will be produced by this important initiative. Ms. Attiya Gamri, an Assyrian-Dutch politician, spoke to all candidates and she also expresses her happiness with the decision to appoint Mr. Warda as lobbyist in Brussels.

Last week Ms. Gamri spoke to the Assyrian associations and political organisations in Europe in the city of Wiesbaden and explained the aims of this important project:  "The Assyrians in the EU support this project and are prepared to give it the efforts it requires.”   

Following his selection Mr. Warda commented: "As soon as possible we will create an international advisory committee, the members of which will all be EU politicians, Dutch politicians, professors, scholars, lawyers, doctors and human rights activists. We hope also to visit Assyria soon.”

Ms. Attiya Gamri is proud that Mr. Ninos Warda, an Assyrian born in London, whose parents were both born in Iraq, will work full-time for this project.

Mr. Warda holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree. He is currently studying for his Masters in Law (LLM) in the field of International Law at the University of London. He is fluent in both written and verbal English and also in both dialects of the Assyrian language. He is a role model for many highly educated young Assyrians in the Diaspora.

This important project and initiative is to begin in November 2007.

Assyria Council of Europe Attends First Conference

Ninos Warda
Assyria Council of Europe
Brussels

Press Release                                                                                                                                                                 
27 November 2007

On Tuesday 27th November the Assyria Council of Europe (ACE) attended their first conference in the European Parliament. The conference dealt with the issue of Iraqi Refugees in the Mashreq Countries and had speakers from various respectable organisations such as Amnesty International, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and also the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The conference was also attended by two commissioners from the European Commission.

This conference is the first of many which ACE plans to attend in order to gain more information about the current situation of Iraqis in the Middle East and also to raise awareness of the plight of the Assyrians.

The following is a brief summary of the meeting written by the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)  :

Debate

The situation of Iraqi refugees in the Mashreq - a major challenge for the European Union The EU and its Member States should provide more financial support to the work of the UNHCR in the Mashreq area and to the Mashreq States (Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan), Member States should make sure that asylum seekers coming from Iraq are able to access EU territory and obtain international protection and finally more resettlement places should be made available for Iraqi refugees in EU Member States. These are the main appeals made to Member States and Institutions by the representatives of UNHCR, the Norwegian Refugee Council, the International Rescue Committee and Amnesty International EU in the course of a debate on the situation of Iraqi Refugees on 2 November. The debate, which focused particularly on the situation in Syria and Jordan, was organised by the European Parliament Delegation for relations with the Mashreq Countries.

The speakers stressed that the situation for Iraqi refugees in the region is extremely critical and that the support of the EU to the hosting countries is absolutely necessary in order to provide refugees with their basic needs, such as food, health care and education. The speakers also expressed concerns with regard to the closure of the Jordan and Syrian borders. During the debate calls were also made for a more coherent European policy towards Iraqi refugees and asylum seekers, which should follow the UNHCR and ECRE guidelines.

For the Commission, Gianluca Grippa, DG External Relations, stated that in the next weeks funds will be allocated to strengthen already existing projects in the region and that the budget for 2008 will be decided on the basis of studies from external competent organisations, such as the study of UNDP on Syria. The Commission also called for more efforts by the Member States.

Finally it was pointed out by the speakers that despite the recent news of Iraq