Meltha Magazine Online

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2002 May Conference pages 10-11

Assyrians Today

Dr. Gabriel OUSSI

The Assyrians were miraculously able to preserve their existence in the Middle East, despite the

massacres, the oppression, and the ethnic extinguishing, during many centuries. In some areas, a complete ethnic extinguishing has taken place, where in other areas, large groupings still fight for their existence. After the Ottoman Empire, East Assyrians fought both politically and military, in order to create a state, and continued preserving their national identity, their language, and their traditions. Greek Orthodox in Syria, and Maronitians in Lebanon, on the other hand, had hopes for living in peace, and freedom under the secularized Arab states.

The Assyrians who left their homeland created new groupings, both within the own country, e.g. Tehran and Istanbul, and also in some European countries. The number of Assyrians in Europe has increased during the past three decades to about 250.000 people. The large groups are found in Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Some small groups are found in Austria and

Switzerland. The European groups are starting now, after some year's uncertainty, to orient themselves in the new societies they have come to. They have created multiple organizations; both connected to their ethnic identity, and to their religious belief. The number of students at university level is continuously increasing, as well as the political activity at all levels.

There are some weaknesses, and society issues among Assyrians in Diaspora. On one hand, we use the democratic climate in our new countries, but on the other, we are ruled by the feudal and patriarchal system we brought with us. These create tensions in the society between the conservative, and the progressive forces, and delay of course the development. A common forum for intellectual and academic people is about to be created, which makes the communication more efficient. We are about to learn how to manage lobbying activities, but we lack a common organizational structure, which may contribute efficiently to bring up concerning issues on the political agenda.

The Assyrian issue should be discussed from the different historical political goals, between the East Assyrians, and the West Assyrians in the homeland. In order to achieve a rapprochement in the point of views, it will cost a lot of effort ~nd large sacrifices.

We must use all the different possibilities in the Diaspora. The large globalization create infinite possibilities. From the Diaspora, we must accentuate the common values, the culture, and the language, in order to create anew sense of belonging, since we lack the geographic, and demographic conditions.