SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE (AUA) MEETING WITH AUSTRALIAN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

FOR IMMIDIATE RELEASE
Sydney – 17 November 2013
On Friday, 15 November 2013, an Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) delegation headed by the Hon Yonathan Betkolia, Secretary General of the AUA and member of the Iranian parliament representing the Assyrians in Iran, met with the Hon Chris Bowen MP, Federal Member for McMahon, and Mr Chris Hayes MP, Federal Member for Fowler. Accompanying Hon Betkolia were Mr Hermiz Shahen, Deputy Secretary General of the AUA, and Mr David David, AUA Regional Secretary for Australia and New Zealand,

Mr Betkolia thanked both members for their continued support for Assyrians and their legal demands, and for raising the concerns of the Assyrian Universal Alliance in the Australian Federal parliament. On 3 June 2013 the Hon Chris Bowen MP, had raised the AUA motion focusing on the Assyrian demand for the establishment of an autonomous province in the heart of the Assyrian ancestral lands in the Nineveh Plain in northern Iraq.

Mr Bowen stated that Assyrians in Australia are justly concerned about the fate of their people in Iraq and Syria, and that it is important that we raise and discuss their concerns in the parliament.

The Assyrians in Australia and abroad are encouraged to lobby their local Member of Parliament to campaign for the development of a self-governed Assyrian province in the Nineveh Plain, Mr Shahen said.

The AUA delegation was welcomed by Mr Frank Carbone, Mayor of Fairfield city, at his office. The delegation thanked Mr Carbone for his hard work and commitment to improve basic services for Fairfield residents and for working closely with the community. Mr Carbone presented Mr Betkolia with a symbolic gift of friendship.

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