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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
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