Armenia recognizes "Assyrian and Greek Genocide"

Armenia recognizes "Assyrian and Greek Genocide". (Facebook).

Today, the Republic of Armenia announced the adoption of a declaration officially recognizing the "Assyrian Genocide", Seyfo, in addition to that of the Greeks and Armenians, at the hands of Ottoman Turkey between 1915 and 1923.

A Demand for Action is honored to work closely with the Armenian National Committee of America.

We recently met to continue our joint efforts to find viable solutions to our common persecution in Iraq and Syria. We would also like to thank Sabri Atman and Seyfo Center for their tireless work in getting the Seyfo recognized.

While ADFA and ANCA are very satisfied by the official recognition that Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks were subject to the same genocide a century ago, this satisfaction is tempered by the knowledge that another attempt to eliminate the Assyrians/Chaldeans/Syriacs, Armenians, and other ethno-religious minorities of the Middle East is underway as we speak.

Below is the official joint statement from ADFA and ANCA in Washington, DC:

The recent atrocities against Assyrians in Khabour, Syria highlight the ongoing, coordinated targeting of Christians in the Middle East by extremists.

From Mosul to Nineveh, Kessab to Kobane, the acts of violence and atrocity unleashed against innocent Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac, Armenian and other defenceless civilians represent an affront to human decency and the shared hope and right of peaceful coexistence in Iraq, Syria and throughout the Middle East .

Both our organizations are committed to using this official recognition as a spur to do everything we can to stop the appalling events of a century ago from happening again.

The Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac and Armenian American communities - bound together by shared history, faith and friendship - collectively call upon the U.S. government to implement solutions to protect our communities and help ensure a peaceful future for all the peoples of the region. A Demand for Action (ADFA) and the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) specifically call for:

-- Direct and decisive U.S. leadership to halt extremist attacks against Christian and other civilian populations specifically targeted for ethno-religious cleansing.

-- Material U.S. support for Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac and other local security forces in Iraq and Syria who are fighting to defend their homes, families and communities against extremist forces.

-- Long-term U.S. support for the realization of the national and democratic aspirations of Assyrians and other minorities, including through the implementation of a province in the Nineveh Plains, Iraq.

-- Increased U.S. assistance to support the Armenian Government's efforts to resettle at-risk Christian populations who seek refuge in Armenia.

The Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac and Armenian American communities will continue to stand together in working towards solutions to end the cycle of persecution and suffering our peoples face and create a meaningful place for them in their ancestral homelands.

For interviews and further comments;

Elizabeth Chouldjian Communications Director ANCA,  Elizabeth@ANCA.org ;  +1 202-775-1918