Volume I - Issue 9

June 2007

Chairman’s Message THE 2nd CONGRESS OF ESU HELD IN BRUSSELS Dear friends,

It has been three years now The General Council of ESU held its second since the foundation of ESU (the Congress on 19-20 May 2007 in Brussels. European Syriac Union). When The second congress that has been held we look back at the past three years, we see that ESU has three years after the foundation of ESU was acquired an important place attended by more than a hundred members. among the Syriac people. The level that ESU has reached is The program of the first day of the Congress very important. Firstly, ESU has started with the opening speech of the been institutionalised and made new members in many of the European coun- Member of the Executive Board Miss Rima tries. Secondly, ESU has continuously raised Tuzun. Thereafter, in remembrance of the the problems of the Syriacs living in the Middle Syriac Martyrs a national Poem was read and East to the international agenda. Accordingly, the attendees stood up a minute of silence. some of these problems that have been contin- The second Guest speaker was a Coptic per- uously shouldered by ESU are the constant attacks against the Syriacs living in Iraq and son, namely Mr. Ayad Mossad, who is one of their security issues, as well as the problems the first friends of ESU. Mr. Mossad in his faced by the Syriac people living in Turkey. speech stated that ESU has made a very Thirdly, ESU has continuously carried the good progress during the last three years and Syriac issues to the European Commission and has a very strong management. He also stat- as a result it helped the issue to enter into the Progress Report on Turkey. Fourthly, ESU has ed that, with the great energy of the executive built a strong bridge between the Syriacs and members who have been working with a high most of the countries that they live in. velocity and exertion, it has made very signif- icant development during the last three years. Whilst ESU has successfully shouldered this issues, there has been some important devel- opments regarding the general Syriac cause. On the second day of the Congress the elec- The most important development is that, togeth- tions of the president and the Ruling er with the Chaldeans and Assyrians who are The President of ESU Mr. Iskender Alptekin Committee took place. The elections were from the same ethnic background, they have informed the attendees about the works car- carried out by a chosen council from the begun to demand an Autonomous region in ried out by ESU during the last three years. members of the Executive Board, who were Iraq. No matter how risky such a demand could be, however it is the only choice that may pre- Mr. Alptekin, also made a speech concerning Mr. Evgil Turker, Mr. Fikri Aygur and Ms. serve our cultural existence. the political developments in the Middle East, Neriman Kucukaslan. In the Presidency elec- the position of the Syriacs within these devel- tion the only nominee was the former presi- The Syriac cause that had become totally irrel- opments and their importance from the Syriac dent Mr. Iskender Alptekin. All the members evant during the cold-war. However, in the past point of view. who attended the Congress, unanimously few years it has entered into the agenda of the Middle Eastern and the Western countries. It is elected Mr. Alptekin to remain in the post of noteworthy to underline the fact that in a In the Congress, the Director of the Eastern the President of ESU for another term of three research carried out by the Leiden University of European Board of the Government of years. the Netherlands, the Syriac people are the best Belgium Mr. Thomas Antoine made a very integrated Middle Eastern people into the effective speech during the special part that Besides the president, another voting took European society. Thus, it could be said that this is a very important milestone for our coales- was designed for the guests. Mr. Antoine who place in order to elect 25 new members for cence with the modern world. In the last few had worked as the Consulate General of the ruling committee, in order to further exe- years we see that there are many international Belgium in Istanbul for three years, was cute the ESU work in Europe. 29 persons symposium held concerning the Syriac history, closely acquainted with the Syriacs of Turkey. were nominated as candidates in the ruling culture and language. Therefore, it is possible Mr. Antoine in his speech stated that he is a committee elections and 25 of them were to say that the world has started to feel the exis- tence of the Syriacs. friend of the Syriacs, and as the Belgian elected. Accordingly, the new members of the Government, within the criteria of ruling committee for three years ahead will For the continuity of these developments and Copenhagen in their dealings with Turkey, be: for a proper representation of the Syriac people they seri- in an international level, ESU will assign a prior- ously take From the Netherlands ity to these main issues: The organizational expansion of ESU and opening new representa- into consid- Mr. Fikri Aygur, Mr. Yılmaz Ergün, Mr. Luey tions in many countries, to place importance on eration the and Ms Naima Gouriye the foreign relations so that we will extend the problems of number of our friends, the establishment of the the Syriacs From Switzerland ESU Youth Branch, to carry the voice of the and they Mr. Evgil Türker, Mr. Nail Akçay, Mr. Tuma Syriacs living in the Middle East to the world in a higher level and to find more solutions for the consider this Çelik, Mr. Albert Akbulut social problems of the Syriacs. as an issue that should From Belgium Best regards, be solved by Mr. Zeki Gezer, Ms Nursel Vergili, Mr. Turkey. Suleyman Gültekin, Mr. Davut Vergili Iskender Alptekin, ESU Chairman The Voice of the Syriacs Volume 1 - Issue 9 page 2

From Germany The new second three-year term president of of the Women federations and to deal more Mr. George İssa, Mr. Aziz Gergin, Ms Suel ESU Mr. Iskender Alptekin, in his closing effectively with the social problems that are Demir, Ms Rima Tüzün, Mr. Abut Can, Mr. speech, at the end of the congress broadly faced by the Syriacs in the countries they are Simon Oğuz mentioned the issues that will be undertaken living. during the From Sweden three years Following the closure of Mr. İskender Haddad, Mr. Rubel Varlı, Ms ahead. the congress, the Ruling Neriman Küçükaslan, Ms Bahiya , Mr. Accordingly, Committee was immedi- Jacob Mirza, Mr. Nezir Yalçın the most ately assembled and important elected the new works to be Executive Board. undertaken Accordingly, the will be; fur- President of ESU Mr. ther Iskender Alptekin as well strengthen- as Mr. Fikri Aygur, Mrs ing the orga- Neriman Kucukaslan, Mr. nizational Evgil Turker, Mr. Aziz structure, the strengthening of the foreign Gergin, Mr. Simon Oguz and Mr. Nail Akcay affairs committee, the establishment of the were elected as the members of the Executive ESU Youth Branch, the expansion of the works Board.

THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SYRIAC SYMPOSIUM

On 30-31 March 2007, the First International The Head of the Delegation Syriac Symposium was held in Turabdin’s cen- of the European Commission tral town of Midyat. This symposium was for to Turkey Mr. Yngve the most part financed by the European Union Engstrom in his speech and was jointly organized by the Ulasilabilir emphasized the importance Yasam Dernegi (Life Within Reach of the civil organisations, and Association) a social organisation from Turkey the significance of such a and the European Syriac Union (ESU). Symposium that is being held in Turkey. To this symposium that lasted for two days, the Archbishop of the of The member of the ruling Mardin Saliba Ozmen, the Head of the committee of ESU who Delegation of the European Commission to organized the Symposium Turkey Mr. Yngve Engstrom, the MP of Mardin informed the audience about Mr. Nihat Eri, the Secretary General of the the reasons for the migration Ulasilabilir Yasam Dernegi Association Belgin of the Syriacs from Turkey. Cengiz, the Project Coordinator of the UYD Thus, stated that the main Hacer Faggo, the members of the ruling com- reasons for this migration are mittee of ESU Mr. Tuma Celik and Ms Linda the historical discrimination Gabriel as well as many scientists from various and persecutions that the Istanbul, Doc, Dr. Ahmet Tasgin from Dicle universities in Turkey attended and made Syriacs have been suffering in their homeland. University, the member of the Ruling speeches. He also emphasized that this migration is not Committee of ESU Mr. Tuma Celik, the presi- only the loss for the Syriacs who have been liv- dent of the Culture and Solidarity Association The opening speech of the Symposium was ing in the region for at least 7 thousand years of Mesopotamia Mr. Muzaffer Iris, Mr. Hakan made by the MP of Mardin Mr. Nihat Eri. Mr. Eri but it is also a loss for Turkey. Aytekin from Maltepe University, PHD student in his speech underlined the changes and the from Ege University Mr. Ihsan Cetin, Mr. progress that the Turkish officials made Following the opening speeches Mr. Celik read Echoue Gouriye (from Syria), Dr. Abdurrahim regarding the problems faced by the local a paper on the Social and Cultural structure of Ozmen, Doc, Dr. Suavi Aydin (Hacettepe Syriacs. the Syriacs. During the Syriac Symposium the University) and the secretary of ESU Ms. Linda following people set in the Gabriel. panel as presenters, Nese Erdilek from Bilgi University’s This Symposium was in no doubt regarded by research centre on the the attendees as the first of its kind in the exer- migration (the Panel on the tion of solving the problems of the Syriac peo- Syriac Identity, the Social ple who have migrated from their homeland structure and Law), Lawyer either due to the massacres and deportation Sabit Halat (the Syriacs that they suffered in 1914-15 or due to the Diaspora and Migration) armed clashes in the region during the 1980’s and Mr. Zafer Yoruk (the and 90’s. Syriac Identity and Cultural Rights). At the conclusion speeches of the Symposium, the importance of the fact that the problems The people who read papers are now being discussed was emphasized, during the panels are: the thus a step had been taken towards finding a representative of the Syriac solution. Following the Symposium the tradi- Cultural Association in tional 1st April New Year and Spring Festival Midyat Mr. Jakop Gabriel, that has been celebrated by the ancestors of Doc, Dr. Emre Isik from the the Syriacs in Mesopotamia was celebrated. University of Mimar Sinan in The Voice of the Syriacs Volume 1 - Issue 9 page 3

The Mythological “First April the Spring and New Year Festival” celebrated in Midyat

Following the First Syriac Symposium that was In order to eject fresh oxygen into the social tant issue for the Syriacs is their wish of living held together by ESU and the Ulasilabilir and cultural lives of the Syriacs living in peacefully in their homeland. In order to Yasam Dernegi (the Life within Reach Turabdin and in order to ease the longing of accomplish this wish we need to work harder. Association) they organized the historical 1st those living abroad, the 1st April spring In doing so the people other than the Syriacs April The New Year Festival in Midyat. The Festival was celebrated with a great joy in are also needed.” Syriacs who are still living in Midyat have also Midyat. The festival started at 12:00 pm and made significant contributions to the organiz- lasted until 19:00 pm. Some of the significant political figures of ing the festival. Turkey who were invited but couldn’t attend The Habur Folklore Dance Group who had the festival for various reasons were the Prime come from the Town of Hasake in Syria, dis- Minister of Turkey Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, played cultural dance motives that were The Secretary General of ANAP Party Mr. enjoyed by the audience. The same Folklore Erkan Mumcu, AK Party Vice Chairman and Group, once again towards the end of the pro- MP Mr. Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat, the Governor gram, among the applauds of the audience of Mardin Province Mr. Mehmet Kiliclar, how- displayed another special dance. ever, all of them sent messages and celebrat- ed the Syriac Spring Festival. Meanwhile, the Midyat Folklore Group also displayed Syriac dances. The Folklore Group of the Syriac Young girls danced some authen- tic and unique cultural dances such as Shekhane, Hassade, Bagiye, Delilo and Halay who are still being preserved among the Syriacs. The AK Party MP from the constituency of Mardin Mr. Nihat Eri, the Mayor of Batman Mr. The Syriac musicians and singers who came Huseyin Kalkan, the member of the Executive from abroad greatly coloured the festival. The Board of the European Syriac Union (ESU) Mr. bands of Kardes Turkuler from Turkey, Gudo Tuma Celik, the Delegate of Turkey in the (Band) d’Zalin from Syria and the singers European Commission Mr. Peter , Amanuel Skander and Sharbel Hanna enter- the Chairman of the Ulasilabilir Yasam Dernegi tained the attendees of the festival with their Association Miss, Belgin Cengiz, the Project songs. Coordinator of the Ulasilabilir Yasam Dernegi The 1st April New Year and Spring Festival, Association Miss. Hacer Foggo, Lecturer and The member of the Executive Board of the which has an important place within the histor- researcher on the Syriac culture from the European Syriac Union (ESU0 Mr. Tuma Celik ical Mesopotamian culture, has started to be Maltepe University Mr. Hakan Aytekin, some made a speech in Turkish and Syriac lan- re-enliven in many areas where the Syriacs Syriac people from Iraq, Syria, and various guages and said: “We are proud of celebrating live. This festival, which has been celebrated European countries, leaders, businessmen, this festival on the soil where we were born for many years in Iraq and in Syria, nowadays Syriac people living in the villages around and grew up. For the last two days we have is celebrated by the Syriacs around the world. Midyat as well as some Muslim people from been discussing the current and future situa- ESU has started the celebration of this annual the area attended this festival. tion of the Syriacs. However, the most impor- festival for the last three years.

The Syriac Union of Lebanon Inaugurates its Representative Office in Beirut

The inauguration ceremony of the Syriac ration ceremony. Among the representatives, goes back to the ancestors of the Syriacs. It Union of Lebanon (SUL) was held on Al Mustaqbal Saad Al Hariri as the representa- was also stated that the exertions of the 25.03.2007 at 06:00 pm. Most of the Political tive of the Cabinet of Ministers in the Prime Syriacs for Lebanon are an honour for parties and organisations attended with their Minister Fuad Siniora’s government, the MP Lebanon. Further, it was stated that the representatives to the inauguration that was Nebil De Frej, the representative of Michael Syriacs currently do not have a representative coincided with the second Anniversary of SUL. Aoun Mr. Michael De Shdarfian, the represen- in the Lebanese government and it was tative of the Lebanese Army Mr. Antoine agreed that there should be such a represen- Nejim, the representative of the Ministry of tation. During the inauguration a portrait of the Information Mr. Gazi Al Aridi, and the rep- Christian politician Mr. Piyer Jemayyel who resentative of the Lebanese Kataieb Party was murdered a few months earlier was pre- Mr. Jihad Bakarduni were present. sented to his memory. A large number of peo- ple numbering around 1400 attended to the Also the representative of the President of inauguration ceremony. Lebanon Mr. Emin Jamayyel, the former President Mr. Sasin Sasin, Mr. Samir Geagea, Dr. Antuan Habashi, the representative of the Ahrar Party Lawyer Joseph Karam, the Archbishop of Zahle and Buak District Bolus Safar, the representa- tive of Suroyo TV Ms. Layla Latte In the new representative office building of and the President of SUL Mr. Ibrahim SUL, there is also a representative office for Morad made speeches in the inaugura- Suroyo TV. Representatives from the tion. Lebanese Syriac Community as well as many representatives from the Lebanese govern- In the speeches, it was stated that the ment and other parties attended to the inaugu- historical roots of the state of Lebanon The Voice of the Syriacs Volume 1 - Issue 9 page 4

The Voice of the The Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrians demanded an Syriacs Autonomous Region in Iraq

On 12-13th March 2007 a congress called the party level were the HBA (the Patriotic Union of IMPRINT Congress of the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrians was Mesopotamia), the SIMA (the Independent Syriac held in Ankawa. The aim of this congress was to Community) and the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian Information bulletin about the unify the political reasoning of the Chaldean-Syriac- Council. social position of the Syriacs in Assyrians. and outside the Middle East. Mostly from Duhok, Erbil, Mosul, Baghdad, Kirkuk, It appears periodically, published The most important reason for such a congress to Basra and various towns of Iraq, over 1100 people by the European Syriac Union take place was that the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrians attended the congress. Meanwhile, from the USA, (ESU) in Brussels-Belgium. of Iraq are living in a great danger. Since the First Canada, Australia and various European countries Golf War the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrians of Iraq, representatives of the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian due to the oppressions and fear, were forced to flee people attended the congress. Contact: abroad. This has reached an alarming level during Phone: 0032 2 523 4181 the last three years. Following the fall of Saddam’s At the end of the Congress that lasted for two days Fax: 0032 2 523 6201 regime, the deteriorating situation, the kidnappings, the following decisions were made: Internet: www.esu.cc the murders, the attacks on churches caused more To form a parliamentary council of representatives e-mail: [email protected] than half of the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian popula- with 41 members. tion to flee abroad. Therefore, the Chaldean-Syriac- Address: Assyrian organisations begun to seek for measures The 41 membership to this Parliament would be dis- in order to stop this migration. tributed as 21 representatives from various regions European Syriac Union of Iraq; 10 representatives from the Diaspora and Rue Bara 152 10 representatives from the Chaldean-Syriac- 1070 Brussels Assyrian party and organisations. Belgium The second decision was that the conveyance of the demands of the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian Chairman: Mr. Iskender Alptekin people to the regional Parliament of Kurdistan and e-mail: [email protected] to the Central Iraqi Parliament of Baghdad. Deputy. Chairm: Mr. Fikri Aygur Some of the requests to be demanded from the par- e-mail: [email protected] liaments: Secretary: Mr. Evgil Turker e-mail: [email protected] 1. The Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrians (Suroyo) are a Treasurer: Mr. Nail Akcay People. e-mail: [email protected] So far the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian parties and 2. The Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian (Suroyo) People, organisations jointly held many conferences, mee- demands Autonomy in its Geographical areas. Members of the Union tings, and congresses for the protection of their people’s rights. For instance, in 2001 at London, in 3. An exception to be made for the Chaldean- 2003 at Amsterdam, in 2004 at Baghdad and in Syriac- in order to be excluded Union der Suryoye Vereine in der 2006 again at Hengelo a town in the Netherlands from being ruled under the Islamic Sheria Laws. Schweiz and in 2007 at Stockholm some joint conferences Switzerland and meetings took place. However, the results The draft proposal that included the above mentio- expected from these gatherings were not met. The ned two decisions was sent both to the Kurdistan Bethnahrin Informations Netz Switzerland main reason for the failure of these meetings was regional Parliament and to the Central Iraqi that a mutual perspective that would further serve Parliament in Baghdad. Union der Assyrer-Suryoye the unity was not accomplished. Also, the draft pro- Vereinigungen in Deutschland grams that were prepared were not worked on and The draft proposal that was sent to the Parliament Germany not followed up adequately. of Baghdad immediately made its echoing effect. Hence the Foreign Affairs Minister of Iraq Mr. Union der Freien Frauen Bethnahrin The reason for this congress to take place in Iraq Hoshar Zebari declared that they see the rightful UFFB was that by doing so it would gain more legitimacy. demand of the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people for Germany Accordingly, the Congress took place in the Hedyab an autonomous province or region as a positive Syrianska-Assyriska Riksförbundet i Hall at Ankawa on 12-13 March 2007. On the first development. Sverige day of the congress that was attended by the repre- Sweden sentatives of the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian parties and organisations the opening speeches were held Renyo Hiro Magazine and various issues were discussed. Among those Sweden who attended the congress as guests, the represen- tative of the PDK (Kurdish Democratic Party), the Assyrian-Chaldean-Syriac Union Netherlands representative of President Talabani’s party YNK (Kurdish Patriotic Union), the Union of Islam Party, Stichting Bethnahrin Informatie the representatives of the Mandean, the Yezidi and Bureau the Armenian communities attended the congress. Netherlands The Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian parties, organisa- Centre Culturel du Peuple de tions and institutions who did not formally attend the Mesopotamie Congress had also sent their representatives to the Belgium congress. However, the parties that were formally Institut Mesopotamie de Bruxelles represented and who attended the congress in the Belgium

Assyrer-Suryoye Kultur Verein Austria The second part of the article “Ephrem the Syriac” will be published in the next issue.