CANBERRA, ACT, March 29 -- The Prime Minister of Australia issued the following media release:
Shlama lokon.
I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, and I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
And today we celebrate the indigenous people of Iraq - the Assyrian people.
I'd also like to acknowledge Hermiz Shahen, President of the Assyrian National Council, representatives of the Assyrian Church of the East, and my colleagues from across Parliament.
It is with great pleasure that I wish you a happy Assyrian New Year.
For Assyrian Australians, this vibrant festival is a wonderful way to honour your connections to a shared past.And what an extraordinary past it is.
You are part of a remarkable story, one that has made an enduring mark on the world.
Arising out of ancient Mesopotamia, it is the story of a remarkable civilisation and a powerful empire. Most of all, it is the story of a people.
Today is a celebration - of culture, identity and community, and of the proud place Assyrian Australians occupy in the story of our country.
It is also an assertion of resilience and survival.
Through the tides of history and fate, through the shifting of borders and the rise and fall of nations and empires, the Assyrian identity has stood proud and unbowed - against the odds.
That is an achievement built by the generations who have gone before you, and whose flame you carry so proudly in your hearts.
Thanks to the work of so many in your community, particularly organisations such as the Assyrian National Council of Australia, it is a flame that is kept burning so brightly its glow will touch generations to come.
What a powerful demonstration of the love, dedication and devotion that is the beating heart of cultural identity.
The Assyrian calendar is entering the year 6776. With such a rich and long past, you are so well equipped to look to what is coming.
For just as much as this festival about celebrating your history and everything that has brought Assyrians to this point, it is also about strengthening your cultural foundations for the future.
For generations, your community has been writing your chapter in the great story of Australia, sending your roots in this country ever deeper without ever surrendering the birthright of your heritage, and your enduring connection to the land that was its cradle.
Of course, the connection is not a straightforward one. The Assyrian story is one shaped in no small part by displacement, persecution and the struggle for cultural rights and recognition in the lands of your ancestors.
Yet what defines the Assyrian spirit is a strength and resilience that's up to so much more than just survival.
It is a spirit that has flourished here. Through hard work, aspiration and love of this country, your community has made Australia a better nation for us all.
I would like to express my gratitude to the organisers and to every hardworking member of this community who gives so much of themselves every year to make this festival the wonderful reality that it is.
This festival plays such an important role. That is why our Government pledged to deliver $200,000 - not just to keep it going, but to keep it growing.
To help you keep adding to the success you have been building with such love and care over the years.
I wish you all a wonderful celebration. May it bring you together - and keep bringing you together.
Basima raba. Thank you for having me. Happy New Year to you all.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
