ISRAEL’S FIRST REGISTERED “ARAMEAN” TO ADDRESS UNITED NATIONS IN GENEVA
Amsterdam, 21 November 2014 - On 16 September 2014, Israel’s Minister of Interior, H.E. Gideon Sa‘ar, signed a document that recognizes “Aramean” as a distinct national identity in Israel’s population registry. In order to promote this historic decision, the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) has invited the first registered Aramean from Israel to present a momentous statement on behalf of the Arameans worldwide at the UN Office in Geneva. Next Wednesday, 26 November, the WCA will address the Seventh Session of the Forum on Minority Issues on “Preventing and addressing violence and atrocity crimes targeted against minorities” (“UN Seventh Session”).
Click here to download this Press Release in PDF.
WCA interviewed by BBC in London
On 7 december 2012 the WCA President mr. Johny Messo has been interviewed by the BBC head office in London concerning a special Christmas programma on the plight of the Christians of Syria.
WCA Lecture in Amriswil, Switzerland
On the 5th of November 2011 WCA, the Aramean Federation of Switzerland and Suryoyo Sat were guest speakers at a lecture hosted by the local association of Amriswil, Switzerland.
SEMINAR: The Syria Policy of Sweden and the EU under Review
On Wednesday 2 July 2014, the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) will organize a seminar on the Syria policy of Sweden and the EU at the Almedalsveckan on the island of Gotland, Sweden. At this important annual platform, Swedish politicians, media and civil society organizations gather to discuss a variety of topics that involve their country.
The seminar, which is open to the public, will review how the decisions and the policies of Sweden and the EU have impacted the human rights situation on the ground, the Syrian asylum seekers in Sweden and more.
The knowledgeable speakers, Mr. Marcus Birro (Swedish journalist, author and poet) and Mr. Johny Messo (WCA President and writer from the Netherlands), will present their views and answer questions from the audience. The event will be moderated by Mr. Daniel Gabriel, an experienced lawyer from Australia and former UN NGO and Human Rights Director of the WCA.
Click here to download the poster
Photo: EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Ms. Catherine Ashton and Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Carl Bildt (AFP)
WCA attended lecture: "THE SYRIAN CRISIS: The Armenian Community in Syria Nowadays"
6 december 2012 the WCA President and WCA Vice-President/Human Rights and UN NGO Director attended an interesting lecture on:
WCA at 20th Anniversary of SAUF
Mr. Daniel Gabriel, WCA's Vice-President, attended SAUF's 20th Anniversary in Hallunda, Sweden on behalf of the WCA Board.
CONFERENCE | "Christians in Syria: The Challenge of Speaking with One Voice"
GENEVA, 8 MAY 2014, 8 P.M. – ESPACE FUSTERIE
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Download the Poster in English | Français
On May 8, 2014, at 8 pm at the Espace Fusterie in Geneva, seven representatives of the largest Churches in Syria - Orthodox and Catholic, senior members of the clergy and lay persons – will witness the dramatic situation confronting Christian communities in a conflict that is tearing this ancient land apart – a land with great culture and a cradle of Christianity.
SUA Lecture in Lugano, Switzerland
On Friday 29 October 2010, the Aramaic Federation of Switzerland organized a lectures in Lugano The invited guest speakers are:
- Johny Messo, SUA President
- Daniel Gabriel, SUA Vice-President & Human Rights and NGO Director
The lectures will be about the recent activities of the Syriac Universal Alliance. The event is open to every interested person.
Turkey, EU and the Arameans of Southeast Turkey - 28th March 2012 EP, Brussels
In cooperation with MEP's Peter van Dalen (ECR) and Renate Sommer (EPP) the WCA organised a conference entitled "Turkey, EU and the Arameans of Southeast Turkey" on 28 March 2012 in the EU Parliament, Brussels.
