Assyrian Democratic Organization ADO
30-03-2024
he Syriac-Assyrian people, along with their parties, organizations, and national institutions at the homeland and in the diaspora, renew their festivities of the Babylonian-Assyrian New Year (Akitu), on the first of April of each year, keeping alive a tradition that symbolizes a great human and historical meaning, that this great national holiday conveys, which strengthens our connection and bind us to our ancestral history, heritage, and civilization in Mesopotamia.
This adherence to celebrating the Akito holidays also demonstrates the desire of our people to consolidate their national existence, and to confirm their ability and will to achieve their legitimate national rights, first and foremost: “Constitutional recognition of the national identity and existence of the Syriac-Assyrian people, and guaranteeing their national rights, recognizing Syriac language and culture as identical parts of the national languages and cultures within the framework of UNITED Syria”. Likewise, transforming the Akitu festival into a national holiday, alongside Nowruz, for all Syrian people, would help eliminate the feelings of injustice that befell Syriac-Assyrian and other entities of the Syrian society, and become a turning point in Syria to show and affirm its true historical authenticity and diversity.
This would not have been achieved without the great efforts made by the Assyrian Democratic Organization ADO over the long decades of its peaceful political struggle on the Syrian national scene, alongside our parties and national institutions, in reviving this ancient national holiday since the early 1970s and rediscovering it again by the rest of the Syrians society through ADO early involvement and active participation within the framework of the Syrian National Democratic Opposition.
Today, through our commitment and participation in the Coordination and Consultation Committee of our Assyrian national parties, which includes, in addition to the ADO, the Syriac Union Party and the Assyrian Democratic Party, we are firmly determined, more than ever, to develop our political consensus and advance our joint work in a way that would fulfill the aspirations of our Syriac-Assyrian people. Our determination equally includes strengthening our relations with all entities of the Syrian people, including Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Armenians and others, Christians, Muslims, and Yazidis, as well as, with all democratic national forces in Syria, in order, to build a decentralized, secular democratic state that would constitutionally recognize the rights of all Syrians based on justice, equality, and true partnership.
This year Akito festival coincides with the year 6774 according to the Babylonian-Assyrian calendar, which also coincides with the thirteenth anniversary of the Syrian revolution for freedom, dignity, and democracy. At a time when the threats of conflict in Syria are exacerbated by regional and international powers. There is also a lack of security and instability and high rates of migration among young people due to the deteriorating economic conditions and a decline in the standard of living for the overwhelming number of Syrians; that is a direct result of the stalemate of the political process by the Syrian regime and its allies and the state of stagnation due to the absence of international will to advance the process of a political solution based on UN Resolution 2254, with all its articles, in which it would lead to a real transition from a totalitarian regime to a modern democratic one and it would commensurate with the sacrifices of Syrians, meets their aspirations, ends their suffering, and moves them from a state of war to a state of peace, stability and prosperity.
The celebration of Akito expresses meanings of renewal, life, resurrection, the end of suffering, and the emergence of light after darkness, this year it coincides with the celebrations of Christians in Syria and the world, with the glorious Resurrection Day according to the Western calendar. On these two great occasions, we, in the Assyrian Democratic Organization, extend our congratulations and blessings to our Assyrian people, parties, churches, and institutions, in the homeland and the diaspora, that Akito 6774 will be a year of wellness, safety, and prosperity for our homeland, our people and all the countries and peoples of the region and the world. May the era of political and military conflicts that are devastating the region come to an end, where the common people are paying the price, and may all people of the earth enjoy peace, freedom, resurrection, light, and joy just as Akito embodies them.
Freedom for the unknown about our two Bishops John Ibrahim and Boulos Yazigi and all detainees in Syria.
A tribute of reverence and honor to the martyrs of our Syriac-Assyrian people and the martyrs of our homeland, Syria.
Wishing you all a blessed Akito.
April 1, 6774, Assyrian, 2024 AD.
Syria.
Assyrian Democratic Organization
Executive Office.
