Meltha Magazine Online

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2002 May Conference pages 24-25

Economic Mechanisms of Raising the Assyrian Social Status

Nugzar P. KHOSHABAEV-TZIKLAURI

In the last century national interests of the Assyrians were represented by different public, political and religious organizations, each being scanty and financially limited, couldn't claim to have high level of recognition and respect. That's why they couldn't count on support from official international organizations and separate countries.

This situation can be completely changed if Assyrian organizations and their leaders understand that without an economic basis it's impossible to protect the nation interests. It's well known that attempts to combine efforts of businessmen or form a unified economic (financial) structure, a unified bank or fund have been made scores of times. But those projects, unfortunately, weren't a success.

In present situation a mass leaving of the Assyrians from their historical homeland is determined, first of all, by a down level of living standard, lack of well-paid workplaces and absence of modern infrastructure which is necessary for safe and up-to-date mode of life.

Creation of these conditions is possible possessing certain investments and introducing Assyrian businessmen into economics of regions where their ancestors lived for centuries. Such investments may be made by separate Assyrian businessmen on their own as well as with the help of different transnational corporations, which are ready to expand the sphere of their activity in these regions. In particular, Assyrian businessmen could come out to this market as parts of such large-scale companies as Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Phillip Morris, Budweiser and many others. Invasion of such great corporations usually doesn't meet with any resistance and ensures a high profit and stable workplaces for the aboriginal population. Such economic intervention will substantially stave off emigration and raise the Assyrian social status at their historical homeland.