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ASSYRIANS AND ARMENIANS PROTEST AS GUL ADRESSES SWEDISH PARLIAMENT
Assyrian International News Agency AINA
March 13 2013
Stockholm (AINA) -- Hundreds of Assyrians and Armenians defied the
cold weather in Stockholm on Wednesday morning as they gathered outside
parliament to highlight Turkey's denial of genocides committed against
them, while Turkish president Abdullah Gul was adressing the Swedish
parliament. A banner held up by the protesters called on Turkey to
recognize the genocides of Assyrians, Armenians and Pontic Greeks in
1915. Swedish TV 4 and Sweden's main newspapper Dagens Nyheter were
among the media who covered the protest.
President Gul also faced tough questions from Swedish-Assyrian
MP Yilmaz Kerimo inside parliament, asking him why Assyrians still
aren't recognized as a minority in Turkey and mentioning the case of
the Saint Gabriel monastery as an example of lack of respect Turkey
has for its Assyrian inhabitants.
For his part Gul pointed to Assyrian orthodox bishop Yusuf Cetin, who
has accompanied the presidents delegation during the three day state
visit to Sweden, as an example of Turkish good will towards Assyrians.
The Assyrian Federation of Sweden has criticized Turkey for using
clergymen to portray a false image.
"No one in Sweden will be fooled into thinking that Assyrians are well
off in Turkey," said Afram Yakoub, president of the Assyrian Federation
of Sweden, while addressing Turkish media. "In fact, the decision to
bring the bishop reveals only how desperate Turkish leadership is to
try to convey the false image of "all is fine with our minorities."
More than one hundred thousand Assyrians live in Sweden, while only
twenty thousand remain in Turkey as a result of lack of ethnic rights
and oppression against them. The Swedish parliament became the first
national legislative body in the world to recognize the genocide of
Assyrians in 2010 (AINA 3-12-2010).
http://www.aina.org/news/20130313111715.htm
Assyrian International News Agency AINA
March 13 2013
Stockholm (AINA) -- Hundreds of Assyrians and Armenians defied the
cold weather in Stockholm on Wednesday morning as they gathered outside
parliament to highlight Turkey's denial of genocides committed against
them, while Turkish president Abdullah Gul was adressing the Swedish
parliament. A banner held up by the protesters called on Turkey to
recognize the genocides of Assyrians, Armenians and Pontic Greeks in
1915. Swedish TV 4 and Sweden's main newspapper Dagens Nyheter were
among the media who covered the protest.
President Gul also faced tough questions from Swedish-Assyrian
MP Yilmaz Kerimo inside parliament, asking him why Assyrians still
aren't recognized as a minority in Turkey and mentioning the case of
the Saint Gabriel monastery as an example of lack of respect Turkey
has for its Assyrian inhabitants.
For his part Gul pointed to Assyrian orthodox bishop Yusuf Cetin, who
has accompanied the presidents delegation during the three day state
visit to Sweden, as an example of Turkish good will towards Assyrians.
The Assyrian Federation of Sweden has criticized Turkey for using
clergymen to portray a false image.
"No one in Sweden will be fooled into thinking that Assyrians are well
off in Turkey," said Afram Yakoub, president of the Assyrian Federation
of Sweden, while addressing Turkish media. "In fact, the decision to
bring the bishop reveals only how desperate Turkish leadership is to
try to convey the false image of "all is fine with our minorities."
More than one hundred thousand Assyrians live in Sweden, while only
twenty thousand remain in Turkey as a result of lack of ethnic rights
and oppression against them. The Swedish parliament became the first
national legislative body in the world to recognize the genocide of
Assyrians in 2010 (AINA 3-12-2010).
http://www.aina.org/news/20130313111715.htm