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'GENEVA II IS LAST OPPORTUNITY TO OUST ASSAD'
Deutsche Welle World, Germany
October 30, 2013 Wednesday 3:13 PM EST
Despite the general belief that Syrian Christians are backing President
Assad's regime, there are many who are siding with the opposition. DW
travelled to Qamishli, in northeast Syria, to speak to one of them.
Gebrail Kourie is the President of the Assyrian Democratic
Organization.
DW: Can you describe the Assyrian Democratic Organization and how
it works?
Gebrail Kourie: The Assyrian Democratic Organization is a national,
political and democratic movement which was founded in 1957 in
Qamishli (around 700 kilometers northeast of Damascus - the ed.) and
we've been working underground ever since. We are the first political
organization of the Assyrian people in Syria and we have branches in
the US, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Turkey. The
Assyrians are the living descendants of the people and the civilization
of Mesopotamia, Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Chaldean, Assyrian,
Aramean, Syriac...Our people has been known in Mesopotamia throughout
history under all these denominations.
Why were you forced to remain underground?
Syria's ruling Baath party never had any problem whatsoever with
religious diversity but national aspirations other than the Arabs'
were systematically denied. We reject calling ourselves "Christians,"
we are Assyrians, we have a historic homeland and a distinct language
and culture, that's why were part of Syria's opposition long before
the revolution. In 2005 we signed the Declaration of Damascus -
a statement of unity by Syrian opposition figures which criticized
the Syrian government as "authoritarian, totalitarian and cliquish"
and called for reform. The Baath party never accepted us even
if we strived for a national recognition without breaking Syria's
boundaries. After the uprising in 2011 we joined the Syrian National
Council - the Istanbul-based coalition of Syrian opposition groups.
Kurds in power in Syria's north have claimed that neither Assad nor
the opposition are willing to recognize Syria's "non-Arab" peoples.
The Syrian opposition has recently moved toward the recognition of our
rights at a meeting in Cairo. However, there are several points to be
discussed, starting from what should be the official name. We want a
"Syrian Republic," and not a "Syrian-Arab Republic." Another pressing
issue is whether Syria should be a federal state. Nonetheless, we
agree that all these points have to be discussed by a representative
parliament after Assad is ousted. It's too early to agree on that now.
Many Syrian Christians support Assad. How has this division affected
your community?
We have a big problem because many local Christians have not accepted
becoming an opposition party. That doesn't mean that Christians support
the dictatorship, it's just that they prefer stability rather than
risk their life fighting for their legitimate rights. We're working to
establish bridges between our community through civil commissions but
the regime is chasing us. The crux of the matter is that Christians
are too afraid as the on-going crisis brings back memories of 1915
genocide, where hundreds of thousands of our people were killed by
the Turks alongside the Armenians. The same happened in Iraq after
2003. Churches have been attacked and a lot of people have left. Since
1970, 200,000 Christians have left Syria, 30 percent of the community
in this northeast region. Today there are more of us in Sweden than
here in Syria, that's why we need to stick to our land and fight for
our rights alongside Arabs and Kurds.
You mention federalism: would you accept being part of the Kurdish
Autonomous Region within Syria that many Kurdish parties are claiming?
We have no problem whatsoever as long as everybody's rights are
recognized and mutual respect prevails over ethnic divisions.
Kurdish opposition parties have accused the PYD - the dominant party
among Syria's Kurds - of ruling in an authoritarian way. What is your
assessment at this point?
That's not true as there are other parties within the Kurdish Supreme
Committee, the governing body in Syrian Kurdistan. Besides, the PYD
has proved to be a strong party and the YPG, the Popular Protection
Units - is keeping Islamists at an arm's length.
Rumors have it that Turkey is funnelling them across its border to
quell the Syrian Kurds' aspirations. Is there any truth to that?
It's very likely as everybody in the Middle East has used Islamists
for their own interest, even Iran and Syria. Before they would be
launched from here to Iraq, and now they are fighting against the
legitimate Syrian opposition. There are communication channels between
Assad and the Jihadists. Assad freed hundreds of them from prison in
order to demonize the Syrian opposition. They've done the job but I
want to underline that by no means does Islamic extremism represent
the ideals of Syria's opposition groups.
Would a foreign intervention bring a solution to a war about to enter
it's third year?
We always fought for a political solution in Syria but Damascus
never moved forward. Assad's only reaction has been a brutal military
response with the help of his allies, Iran, Hezbollah and Russia among
them. Hence, Syria has turned into an open battlefield for foreign
powers. If there's no political transition, Assad's dynasty will be
perpetuated in Syria and the whole country will turn into a stronghold
for Islamists. Geneva II (peace conference on Syria planned for Nov.
23 - the ed) can be our last opportunity to oust Assad and to bring
back all those who left Syria. Nobody wants to see their country
attacked but if the political way doesn't lead to the fall of Assad,
then I'm afraid there'll be no other way.
Deutsche Welle World, Germany
October 30, 2013 Wednesday 3:13 PM EST
Despite the general belief that Syrian Christians are backing President
Assad's regime, there are many who are siding with the opposition. DW
travelled to Qamishli, in northeast Syria, to speak to one of them.
Gebrail Kourie is the President of the Assyrian Democratic
Organization.
DW: Can you describe the Assyrian Democratic Organization and how
it works?
Gebrail Kourie: The Assyrian Democratic Organization is a national,
political and democratic movement which was founded in 1957 in
Qamishli (around 700 kilometers northeast of Damascus - the ed.) and
we've been working underground ever since. We are the first political
organization of the Assyrian people in Syria and we have branches in
the US, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Turkey. The
Assyrians are the living descendants of the people and the civilization
of Mesopotamia, Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Chaldean, Assyrian,
Aramean, Syriac...Our people has been known in Mesopotamia throughout
history under all these denominations.
Why were you forced to remain underground?
Syria's ruling Baath party never had any problem whatsoever with
religious diversity but national aspirations other than the Arabs'
were systematically denied. We reject calling ourselves "Christians,"
we are Assyrians, we have a historic homeland and a distinct language
and culture, that's why were part of Syria's opposition long before
the revolution. In 2005 we signed the Declaration of Damascus -
a statement of unity by Syrian opposition figures which criticized
the Syrian government as "authoritarian, totalitarian and cliquish"
and called for reform. The Baath party never accepted us even
if we strived for a national recognition without breaking Syria's
boundaries. After the uprising in 2011 we joined the Syrian National
Council - the Istanbul-based coalition of Syrian opposition groups.
Kurds in power in Syria's north have claimed that neither Assad nor
the opposition are willing to recognize Syria's "non-Arab" peoples.
The Syrian opposition has recently moved toward the recognition of our
rights at a meeting in Cairo. However, there are several points to be
discussed, starting from what should be the official name. We want a
"Syrian Republic," and not a "Syrian-Arab Republic." Another pressing
issue is whether Syria should be a federal state. Nonetheless, we
agree that all these points have to be discussed by a representative
parliament after Assad is ousted. It's too early to agree on that now.
Many Syrian Christians support Assad. How has this division affected
your community?
We have a big problem because many local Christians have not accepted
becoming an opposition party. That doesn't mean that Christians support
the dictatorship, it's just that they prefer stability rather than
risk their life fighting for their legitimate rights. We're working to
establish bridges between our community through civil commissions but
the regime is chasing us. The crux of the matter is that Christians
are too afraid as the on-going crisis brings back memories of 1915
genocide, where hundreds of thousands of our people were killed by
the Turks alongside the Armenians. The same happened in Iraq after
2003. Churches have been attacked and a lot of people have left. Since
1970, 200,000 Christians have left Syria, 30 percent of the community
in this northeast region. Today there are more of us in Sweden than
here in Syria, that's why we need to stick to our land and fight for
our rights alongside Arabs and Kurds.
You mention federalism: would you accept being part of the Kurdish
Autonomous Region within Syria that many Kurdish parties are claiming?
We have no problem whatsoever as long as everybody's rights are
recognized and mutual respect prevails over ethnic divisions.
Kurdish opposition parties have accused the PYD - the dominant party
among Syria's Kurds - of ruling in an authoritarian way. What is your
assessment at this point?
That's not true as there are other parties within the Kurdish Supreme
Committee, the governing body in Syrian Kurdistan. Besides, the PYD
has proved to be a strong party and the YPG, the Popular Protection
Units - is keeping Islamists at an arm's length.
Rumors have it that Turkey is funnelling them across its border to
quell the Syrian Kurds' aspirations. Is there any truth to that?
It's very likely as everybody in the Middle East has used Islamists
for their own interest, even Iran and Syria. Before they would be
launched from here to Iraq, and now they are fighting against the
legitimate Syrian opposition. There are communication channels between
Assad and the Jihadists. Assad freed hundreds of them from prison in
order to demonize the Syrian opposition. They've done the job but I
want to underline that by no means does Islamic extremism represent
the ideals of Syria's opposition groups.
Would a foreign intervention bring a solution to a war about to enter
it's third year?
We always fought for a political solution in Syria but Damascus
never moved forward. Assad's only reaction has been a brutal military
response with the help of his allies, Iran, Hezbollah and Russia among
them. Hence, Syria has turned into an open battlefield for foreign
powers. If there's no political transition, Assad's dynasty will be
perpetuated in Syria and the whole country will turn into a stronghold
for Islamists. Geneva II (peace conference on Syria planned for Nov.
23 - the ed) can be our last opportunity to oust Assad and to bring
back all those who left Syria. Nobody wants to see their country
attacked but if the political way doesn't lead to the fall of Assad,
then I'm afraid there'll be no other way.