The Assyrian Democratic Organization
Brussels (AINA) — On initiative of the Assyrian magazine Funoyo a meeting took place in the EU-Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday, November 29th, 2006.
At the invitation of Mechthild Rothe (SPD, Social Democratic Party Germany) an official assembly had been appointed, at which other Members of the European Parliament took part. Delegates in the Mixed Parliamentarian Committee EU-Turkey, such as Cem ?zdemir (The Greens, Germany), Vural ?ger (SPD, Social Democratic Party Germany), Hannes Swoboda (SP?, Social Democratic Party Austria) and Jan Marinus Wiersma (PVDA, Partij van de Arbeid Netherlands), also participated
The Assyrian delegation was represented by Sait Demir (ZAVD, Central Federation of all Assyrian Associations in Germany and European Sections), Nicme Seven (AJM, Assyrian Youth Federation Middle Europe), Sabri Atman (Seyfo Center, Institute on Genocide Studies), Nuri Ayaz (Funoyo, Assyrian Magazine) and Kuryo Meytap (Funoyo, Assyrian Magazine).
Under the motto EU-Turkey and the Assyrians the situation of the Assyrians both in the Diaspora and especially in Turkey was discussed. On this occasion the assembly pointed out the current conditions and the slow pace of progress according to the reforms of the Turkish EU accession negotiations. Attacks on Assyrians in the past months, the right of ownership of private property and other difficulties were also discussed.
The delegation also met prior to the official meeting in the EU-Parliament with Christos Makridis, Principal Administrator on Turkey’s Enlargement Directorate-General of the European Commission, to talk about the recently published report of the EC and the role of the Assyrians. In the coming week he is going to visit with a board Turkey to meet there with Turkish ministers discussing the developments of the country. Focus of his work is especially the improvement of human rights, education and security within the Republic of Turkey.
