An Evening of Assyrian History and Culture
Melbourne (AINA) -- on August 13 hundreds of Melbourne's Assyrian community enjoyed a rare visit by two distinguished and acclaimed Assyrians; the pioneer of the Assyrian genocide recognition movement, Sabri Atman, and the renowned Assyrian poet and activist Ninos Aho. Mr. Atman and Mr. Aho were both guests of thee Melbourne organizations, the Australian Assyrian Arts and Literature Foundation, Beth-Nahrin Cultural Club and Victorian Assyrian Community, who had organized the event in their honor.
Dignitaries present included Mr. Hermiz Shahen, the Deputy Secretary General of the Assyrian Universal Alliance and Mr. David David, President of the Assyrian Australian National Federation, who had traveled from Sydney to be in attendance. Rev. Gewargis Toma of the Assyrian Church of the East and Cor-bishop Iskander Afram of the Syriac Orthodox Church were also present, along with representatives from numerous Assyrian political, social and cultural organizations.

Addressing the event, Mr. Jacob Haweil, Chairman of the Australian Assyrian Arts and Literature Foundation, discussed the great importance of the erection of the Assyrian Genocide Monument in Sydney and praised the efforts of all those involved in the project. Similarly, Mr. Haweil thanked both Mr. Atman and Mr. Aho for taking the time to visit Melbourne and spread their message of Assyrian national renewal and progress.

The program, presented in both the western and eastern dialects of the Assyrian language, saw numerous poets from amongst the Assyrian community in Melbourne deliver heartwarming and patriotic poems relating to Assyrian nationalism and in particular, the Assyrian Genocide. Following the recitation of poetry and a number of musical performances, the evening's two keynote addresses were delivered by the guests of honor, Mr. Atman and Mr. Aho.

Mr. Atman, director of Sweden's Seyfo Genocide Research Center, gave a poignant speech on the importance of Assyrian genocide recognition and the great progress made hitherto in both public awareness and formal recognition, particularly in Europe. Pledging to never cease in the fight for Assyrian genocide recognition, Mr. Atman called on all those in attendance to lend their support to the movement as a means of ensuring its success. Mr. Atman also employed the opportunity to comment on the nature of Turkish denial, categorically and thoroughly repudiating many of the common talking points used in denial of the Assyrian genocide.

In his address, Mr. Aho highlighted the unifying nature of Seyfo (the Assyrian word for sword, commonly used to refer to the Assyrian genocide) in the Assyrian national movement and its ability to circumvent religious and political cleavages. Mr. Aho's rousing speech, delivered in both western and eastern Assyrian, left many attendees emotional and with tears in their eyes. Many had particularly come to hear Mr. Aho's timeless poetry. The guest of honor did not disappoint, passionately reciting a number of poems to rounds of rapturous applause and a standing ovation.

The conclusion of the highly successful event saw many attendees grasp the opportunity to reminisce with the guests of honor, recall memories of life in the traditional Assyrian homeland and ponder the future direction of the Assyrian national movement.