Turkey, EU and the Arameans of Southeast Turkey - 28th March 2012 EP, Brussels
Turkey, EU and the Arameans of Southeast Turkey
28th March 2012, Room A5G2, EU Parliament, Brussels
Hosted by Peter Van DALEN MEP(ECR) and Renate SOMMER MEP(EPP) in cooperation with the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs)
MEPs Van DALEN and SOMMER invite you to draw attention to the precarious situation of the Christian Aramean (otherwise known as Syriac) people in Southeast Turkey. Despite the 3,000-year-old presence of this indigenous people in the region, they are still not recognized as a minority. Thus they have never enjoyed their human rights, but were always subjected to subordination and discrimination. In the last decades, they were forced to flee. Today only 3.000 Arameans are left in their ancestral land, whereas 250.000 are scattered in Europe. More and more Arameans are sick and tired of the screaming silence on these matters. They want the truth to emerge and be heard by the international community. They will discuss problems as well as potential solutions and opportunities.
Program:
11.30 Lunch Buffet
12.00 Welcome and introduction by Peter Van DALEN and Renate SOMMER MEP
12.15 H.E. Mor Gregorius Melki Ürek, Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Adiyaman in Southeast Turkey
The Current Status of the Aramean Christians in Southeast Turkey: With Attention to the Case of St. Gabriel Monastery (founded in 397 A.D.)
12.40 Mr. Johny Messo, President of the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs)
Problems, Opportunities and Challenges: Urgent Appeal to the EU and Turkey on behalf of the Aramean People
13.00 Dialogue and Discussion
13.45 Closing remarks by Peter van DALEN MEP and Renate SOMMER MEP
