ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE DELEGATION VISIT TO CANBERRA

FOR IMMIDIATE RELEASE
Sydney – 21 January 2014
On Monday, 20 January 2014, a delegation headed by Mr Hermiz Shahen, Deputy Secretary General of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA), Mr David M. David , Regional Secretary of Australia and New Zealand of the AUA, Mr Benjamin Benjamin, AUA- Australia Chapter Executive Board member and Mr Paul Azzo, AUA advisor conducted and official visit to Canberra wherein they called upon several politicians and dignitaries including Mrs Karen Bos, Vice President of the Christian Faith and Freedom.
The delegation visited the Iraqi Embassy and met with the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq, His Excellency Mouayed Saleh. The delegation was received with an overwhelming welcome by the Ambassador and Mr Mohammed Alaubidy, the First Secretary in the Embassy. The delegation spent over one hour discussing a number of significant issues including the latest developments in Iraq as well as the demands of the Assyrian people. The delegates stressed the lack of funding, work opportunities and aid to the Assyrian region, the effects of sectarian violence and systematic abuses by extremists waged against the entire Christian population. The delegation called upon the Iraqi government to take immediate measures to address this colossal humanitarian crisis that is endangering the very existence of the most ancient people group in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East. Mr Shahen presented the Ambassador with an official letter addressed to The Honourable Nouri Al Maliki , Prime Minister of Iraq on behalf of the AUA leadership.

The Ambassador stressed that Assyrians are the indigenous people of Iraq and they must exercise their rights freely; he promised to deliver the Assyrian Universal Alliance’s letter to the Prime Minister.
The delegation conveyed their sincere thanks and appreciation to H.E. the Ambassador for his warm welcome and for the time that he devoted listening to the delegation with the hope that the meeting would achieve a positive outcome.

Assyrian Universal Alliance
PO Box 34, Fairfield NSW 1860 Australia
E-mail: auaaustralia@optusnet.com.au