Opening Speech – Inauguration of the Branch of the National Union of Syrian Students in Australia
ANU - Canberra

Distinguished guests, Academics and Students

Let me begin by thanking President of the National Union of Syrian Students and Member of the People's Assembly in Syria Mr. Ammar Saati and as well, Ambassador of the Syrian Arab Republic to Australia and New Zealand H.E. Mr. Tammam Suliaman for attending the founding conference of Syrian Students Union in Australia. I also welcome the Delegation coming from Syria with Mr. Saati, Mr. Muhammad Ojail, and Member of the People's Assembly in Syria and Mr. Samir Masaad, Chairman of the Syrian Students in Prague.

Today, through integration, cohesion, acceptance and open dialogue amongst Australian and local and international Students of Syrian descent in Australia, we witness this momentous achievement of the founding of the Australian Branch of the National Union of Syrian Student in Australia.

The founding of the “Syrian Student Union” in Australia is a product of the consultation of the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic in Canberra and the Syrian Student Union in Damascus - Syria. The founding of the Syrian Student Union in Australia by way of the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic - Canberra is attributable to Syria's insistence to everlasting peace as a universal norm under the commendable efforts of President H.E. Dr. Bashar Al Assad. Of particular importance and most notable influential feature to the Syrian Student Union is again, is the reinforcement of H.E. Bashar Al Assad quest to peace and in keeping with this school of thought, the Syrian Student Union fosters adaptability through “cooperation” “integration” “understanding” and “acceptance” of the many diverse cultures in Australia.

Inspired by the task of being the Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee, I started with my colleagues to form a small group to prepare for this Conference, and we tried to build a modest network of students of Syrian background in order to start the Australian Branch of the Syrian Students Union. And here we are. We witness this to come to fruition.

The involvement of the Syrian Student Union perhaps demonstrates tenacity and drive in balancing the cross cultural link amongst Syrian, Australian students of Syrian heritage and Australian friends, that is primarily focused on, through their “outside the box” thinking, “relationship” and “development qualities” and “creative intellect” the Students, have maintained a multicultural teambuilding relationship with Australian friends, students and Academics that is and will most likely be dedicated to developing insights to foster adaptability and continuous improvement of Syrian and Australian student relations on Syrian and Australian Campuses.

In particular this is most notably achieved through an even handed relationship and a strong sense of peaceful attitude, which in due course will ultimately set an all- encompassing understanding of the needs of culturally sensitive matters to both Syrian and Australian Students alike. In particular we hope this branch will rectify the common stereotyping of the great Arab civilizations that we have come from.

As Australians of Syrian origin we are very determined in building Australian-Syrian friendship through the Australian branch of the Syrian Student Union of Australia and further be of service to Australian-Syrian acquaintanceship similar to the Friends of Syria Group that our Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic in Canberra has been putting forward since its establishment in 2004.

On behalf of the Syrian Students in Australia, I have great gratitude in having this opportunity in thanking the efforts put forward by the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic for the beginning of strong discourse concerning Syrian - Australian relations at student level, and also to thank the President of the National Union of Syrian Students, Mr. Ammar Saati and the Delegation for launching the Australian Branch of the Syrian Students Union.

Thank you all

Ms. Renda Darwich