Sydney -- The Asryrian Universal Alliance-Australian Chapter in cooperation with the Australian Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies (AIHGS) are holding an evening seminar commemorating Assyrian Marbrrs and Genocide Day on Thursday 7 August 2008, 6:00 pm. At Theatrette Room, Pmliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney.

Papers will be presented on topics relating to the Assyrian genocide in the Ottoman Empire. Speakers will include; Mr. Sabri Afrnan, Assyrian Seyfo (Genocide) Centre -From Sweden, Dr. Panayiotis Diamadis, Director, Austalian Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and Dr. Racho Donef, Assyrian Genocide scholar.

The 7th of August is a day when Assyrians around the world commemorate the Assyrian Martyrs and Genocide. It has been designated, by the Assyrian Universal Alliance, as a memorial day for Assyrian Marlyrs slaughtered at the hands of the Turkish army during World War One and those who were cruelly Marryred by the haqi Army in August 1933, one year after haq declared its independence.

Assyrians all over the world set aside this day for the remembrance of those who, because of their Christian faith and Assyrian ethnic identity, experienced the most honific form of terror and crime against their humanity. And yet, this Memorial Day does not only remember a dark time in our nation's history, it speaks also of what is occurring today - and calls for ajust intervention by all people and nations who value humanity.

When haq was formed in 1932. Assyrians, the most ancient race of kaq were excluded of a safe haven and autonomy in their historical land in Northem haq. This has precipitated ongoing persecution and suffering in varying forms of genocide until today. Although the clock cannot be turned back, there certainly exists an opportunity today to correct the grievous error committed against the Assyrian nation 75 years ago.

Amnesty Intemational's recent report reveals tenifying stories of hrxrdred of thousands of Assyrian refugees forced out of kaq after the so called "Liberation" of kaq and its adoption of an ugly caricature of "Democracy". This address is too brief to describe the staggering deficits of the haqi govemment and the Kurdish controlled region with regards to the preservation, protection and promotion of humanitarian rights of the Assyrian Christian people.

The Assyrian Universal Alliance is working to pass a resolution in the State parliament of NSW for recognition of the genocide committed against the Assyrian people as well as we invite intemational humanitarian institutions to pressure Turkey to acknowledge and apologise for the atrocities they committed in 1915 against our people. The Assyrian Universal Alliance has determined that it must continue to do all that it can to make the Assyrian voice be heard by all Democratic Governments and Intemational Organizations.

Assyrian Universal Alliance, Australian Chapter