Subj: ZENDA I (Vol I,#12 ; 5/5/97) Date: 97-05-05 05:27:17 EDT From: zenda@ix.netcom.com (ZENDA) To: zenda@ix.netcom.com Yaar 5, 6747 May 5, 1997 zzzzzzzz zzzzzzzz zz z zzzzzzzzz z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z zzzzzzz z z z z z zzzzzzz z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z zzzzzzzz zzzzzzzz z zz zzzzzzz z z Volume III, Issue 12 A Weekly Online Publication of ZENDA Assyrian Newsagency -Section 1 of 2- =========================================================================== T H I S W E E K I N Z E N D A =========================================================================== -Section One- The Lighthouse...................... Dadesho on Negative Phenomenon... Good Morning Bet-Nahrain............ Iraq's Defiant Leaders Still On Top Surfs Up............................ "what a wonderful job" Surfers Corner...................... Computer Equipment for the North Canadian-Assyrian Directory News Digest......................... Kurdish Groups Reach Agreement Mideast Churches Gather in Syria Conference on ANE Poetry in Israel Saddam Seeks Self-Cloning -Section Two- Ziggurat............................ No New Entries Calendar of Events.................. No New Entry Entracte............................ May 17: Assyrian Brunch in San Jose Intelligentsia...................... Citizenship Classes in San Jose Assyrian Surfing Posts.............. Syrian Orthodox Resources Pump up the Volume.................. Complete & Insufficient Back to the Future.................. City of Ashur Under Ur & BNDP Literatus........................... 781 AD Syriac Inscription in China This Week in History................ Salamas Earthquake Bravo............................... Nineveh Online Wins the GAR The Directory....................... News Sources Bshena.............................. Amdahl, UCI, and Canada Salute.............................. Albert, Firas, Pauline, & Arbil =========================================================================== THE L I G H T H O U S E =========================================================================== NEGATIVE PHENOMENON SHOULD BE ELIMINATED Division, fragmentation, splintering and the various sharp disputes are all a source of weakness and inability to face challenges and circumstances when these things appear. Divisions in a nation has led to its destruction. Sharp disputes among our people have led to Assyrian impotence the like of which has never been seen before. Differences of opinion are normal and demonstrate true democracy. But when the differences are used a s weapons against some and accusations are hurled at them and slogans used, as if they were absolute truths which they are not, then we must say we reject it totally. It allows our adversaries to promote their schemes and to realize their aim in dividing our ranks. True opposition always works for the public interest. It considers its self-interest as something secondary to its public responsibility it shoulders with every individual. We are proud to have been an honest, sincere, realistic, and logical opposition in certain circumstances. Such opposition among the Assyrian people gives democracy depth and dimension. It enhances democracy and prevents any "leader" or "official" from committing mistakes. This is always our position which we constantly repeat after we have seen the seeds of dissension and division and division sown in this critical stage in the life of the Assyrian people. There are basics that should be adhered to. They should be kept above secondary and marginal issues. People who have son throughout history have been able to do this. We are going through a time when we need unity and solidarity more than anything else so we can defeat the dangers that confront all of us. In order to maintain our present momentum, we call upon all the brethren to safeguard national unity and to bolster it. This call is directed to all educated and true Assyrian nationalists. This comes from our hearts and reflects our feeling of responsibility at this stage. We have to eliminate all the causes of weakness so that our march will be enhanced and we will achieve a comprehensive and just solution to the Assyrian national cause. Dr. Sargon Dadesho Bet-Nahrain Journal, Vol 9, #1 [Dr. Dadesho is the chairman of the Assyrian National Congress and the editor of Bet-Nahrain Journal] =========================================================================== G O O D M O R N I N G B E T - N A H R A I N =========================================================================== A DEFIANT LEADER STAYS ON TOP IN IRAQ While his people scramble to find scarce food and medicine, gold-plated statues of Saddam Hussein were unveiled in Iraq's major cities this week to celebrate the dictator's 60th birthday. Sanctions have reduced 20 million Iraqis to grinding poverty, only slightly alleviated by a $2 billion oil-for-food deal authorized by the United Nations in December. But Saddam still enjoys absolute power and continues to defy U.N. weapons inspectors, the only ones who can get the embargo lifted. Six years after a U.S.-led coalition defeated Saddam in the Gulf War, he still has not complied with U.N. resolutions ordering him to destroy all his weapons of mass destruction. Not only does he retain an arsenal of chemical, biological and nuclear arms, he seems intent on making more. In his final report to the U.N. Security Council, presented April 18, the outgoing chief weapons inspector, Rolf Ekeus, said there had been a "serious deterioration" in Iraq's cooperation. He accused Saddam's regime of lying about what arms it had destroyed, continuing programs that were supposed to be dismantled and hiding Scud missiles. "We've seen documents containing instructions from high authorities to institutions and agencies requesting that the capacity to resume and complete arms programs must be retained," said Ekeus. "What we have is a pattern of intentions moving on a dangerous path." In March, Iraq confessed to making 1,700 pounds of VX nerve gas but claimed all stocks were destroyed after the Gulf War. However, Ekeus said his inspectors could not verify that claim. VX is far deadlier than sarin, which killed 12 Japanese and hospitalized more than 5,500 in a 1995 nerve gas attack on Tokyo's subway system by the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo. the Pentagon has since acknowledged that 20,000 U.S. troops may have been exposed to sarin while destroying Iraqi ammunition dumps during the Gulf War. Earlier this month, U.N. inspectors also uncovered an extensive biological warfare program. They did not even know Iraq had such weapons until 1995. In July of that year, Iraq acknowledged having biological agents but no delivery system. After the defection of Lt. Gen. Hussein Kamel al-Majid, a son-in-law of Saddam in charge of weapons procurement, Baghdad finally owned up to having tested artillery shells, rockets and bombs capable of carrying biological agents. "That's how the Iraqis operate," said British Col. Terence Taylor, who led the latest biological weapons inspection team. "You find it out and then they declare it. And I bet you after my mission, the Iraqis will say, 'Oh yes, we did do this work on this particular agent.'" Washington would like to keep sanctions in place as long as Saddam is in power. But other members of the Security Council are wavering . Russia, China and France have lucrative oil deals with Baghdad that can only be consummated when sanctions are lifted. The most fascinating tale to come out of Baghdad lately is Saddam's reported desire to be cloned (See NEWS DIGEST). The London Telegraph says Saddam was highly intrigued by the successful cloning of "Dolly," a Scottish sheep. But for now, Saddam's closest replicas are his sons, Uday and Qusai, whom he proudly calls his "cubs." As children, both were forced to accompany their father when he visited his torture chambers. They are now as murderous as he is. Holger Jensen Rocky Mountain News Denver, Colorado =========================================================================== S U R F S U P ! =========================================================================== "LONG LIVE ZOWAA....I have a suggestion: instead of sitting on your chairs in front of the computer screen, beads of sweat trickling down into your eyes as you struggle to spell out hate, WHY DON'T YOU GO TO NORTHERN IRAQ AND FIGHT IN THE DIRT AND BLEED FOR OUR DYING NATION. Only then will you be qualified to wax rhetoric over the issues of morality and philos concerning ZOWAA. Does it matter? The TRUE ASSYRIAN WARRIORS AREN'T READING YOUR WORDS, they could care less. It amazes me how Assyrians can find anything to bicker about. As long as we are so judgmental of each other and our leaders, we will get nowhere. I'm preparing myself for the onslaught of your justifications and cries of outrage at my strong language. ZOWAA IS THE TRUE ASSYRIAN OMTANAI.....not you." Marian Younan University of California, Davis [Ms. Younan is the Executive Secretary of the Assyrian American National Federation.] *************** "I JUST WANTED TO INFORM YOU THAT THE SHOTAPUTA OF SAN JOSE IS NOW OFFERING CONSTITUTION CLASSES FOR EVERYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE CITIZENSHIP EXAM. WE TEACH THEM QUESTIONS THAT WILL COME UP DURING THEIR INTERVIEWS. ANYONE INTERESTED IN SAN JOSE PLEASE INFORM THEM OF THIS CLASSES ARE OFFERED FREE EVERY MONDAY AND TUESDAY 7PM - 9PM PLUS ADDITIONAL CLASSES WILL BE OFFERED (TIME NOT KNOWN AS OF NOW). OUR CLASSES ARE MOST OF THE OLDER GENERATION BUT ANYONE IS WELCOMED. PLEASE LET PEOPLE KNOW IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN IT. P.S I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME AND TELL YOU WHAT A WONDERFUL JOB YOU ARE DOING WITH ZENDA. I ENJOY READING IT ALL THE TIME!" Linda S. Zaia San Jose, California =========================================================================== S U R F E R S C O R N E R =========================================================================== ZENDA readers are invited to respond to the following request(s) by either directly writing to the author or sending a reply to ZENDA. *************************************************************************** Shelama dear friends, our brothers in Garbeya have sent us a list of equipment they need. If you are interested to help please contact Youkhana Khaninia at youkiek%tcm@c2smtp.telcom-semi.com or call him at 408 226 9724 (home) 415-968-9241 ext 260 (work). Here is the list of items they need: 1- CD ROM READ/WRITE QTY = 2 value $500 each 2- SCANNER FLAT BED QTY = 2 3- HP LASER JET II QTY = 2 4- TONER QTY = 2 value $90 each 5- COMPUTER PENTIUM WITH 16 MEG RAM QTY = 1 value $900 6- COLOR MONITOR QTY = 1 value $250 7- VIDEO CARD WITH INPUT AND OUTPUT FOR EDITING QTY = 1 value $200 Lena Mushell San Jose, California [Ms. Mushell is a representative of the Assyrian Aid Society of America]. *************** The Canadian-Assyrian Directory 6747 (1997), produced by Bet-Nahrain Organization of Canada, is here. The directory includes Assyrian businesses, residential telephone numbers, Assyrian organizations, and articles who enjoy reading Assyrian news and poems. This directory with over 200 pages of valuable information is a must for every Assyrian household. The cost is only $20.00. To order please call Ashur Shamoun at (905) 825-5399 or Ashur Simon Malek at (905) 318-8283. From the sale of each Directory $5 will be donated to the Assyrian Radio program of Toronto, produced by the "Assyrian Voice of Canada". Ashur Simon Malek Ontario, Canada =========================================================================== N E W S D I G E S T =========================================================================== KURDISH GROUPS REACH A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT IN IRAN (ZNRU: Dubai) Senior officials of two Iraqi Kurdish groups have agreed during talks in Iran on a cease-fire to end recent clashes in northern Iraq, the official Iranian news agency IRNA reported Wednesday. It said that the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Islamic Movement agreed at the end of talks Tuesday night in Tehran on the "need to hold onto the cease-fire." IRNA quoted a joint statement as saying the two sides agreed "negotiations should continue until the complete cessation of all hostilities and return to normalcy and mutual cooperation which will guarantee the interests of the people of Iraqi Kurdistan." The PUK said Monday it had clashed with the Islamic Movement in northern Iraq near the Iranian border at the weekend as part of sporadic fighting that broke out earlier in April. It said its traditional rival the Kurdistan Democratic Party(KDP) was supporting the Islamist group. Last week,the Turkish officials, based in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, said in a statement that 18 PKK rebels were killed in Mardin province and nine died in a clash in the eastern province of Tunceli. The KDP and PUK have met frequently for peace talks in Turkey since they declared a cease-fire last October following intense fighting. Kurdish rebels have been in control of northern Iraq since Baghdad's defeat in the 1991 Gulf War over Kuwait. MIDDLE EAST CHURCH LEADERS GATHER IN SYRIA (ZNUP: Damascus) The Council of Middle East Churches has opened a four-day meeting in Damascus to discuss religious issues and denounce Israeli practices in Jerusalem and other occupied Arab territories. The meetings are chaired by Egypt's Coptic Pope Shenoudah III and attended by leaders of various Christian Eastern churches in the Middle East. Greek Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim said the Council meetings aimed at discussing a number of issues, mainly "to raise the Christian voice regarding what's happening in occupied Jerusalem, Palestine and other Lebanese and Syrian territories." Hazim said, "It is to express condemnation and rejection of Israeli practices in these areas." Shenoudah renewed rejection of normalization of relations with Israel and accused the Jews of being racists. Observers said his remarks were in response to Pope John Paul II, who said during his trip to Bosnia last month that Jesus Christ was "a real son of Israel." Syria's Muslim Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Kaftaro called on the Western Christian world and church to back "the rights of the Palestinian people inside their homeland in harmony with the teachings of Jesus Christ." Kaftaro, however, praised leaders of the Eastern churches for backing Arab rights, especially Jerusalem, against Israel. A Syrian government source said President Hafez Assad will meet with Shenoudah to "honor him and his church for rejecting normalization (of relations) with Israel at a time the Middle East peace process is passing through its most dangerous crisis." The Council meetings came on the eve of a two-day visit by Pope John Paul II to Lebanon next week. At press time it is not clear whether any delegation from the Assyrian, Syrian, or Chaldean churches had also participated at this conference. Unconfirmed reports indicate that an ancient Assyrian church in Jerusalem will be demolished due to the new housing projects for the expansion of the Jewish settlements in Israel. CONFERENCE ON ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN POETRY, IN ISRAEL (ZNDA: Chicago) On Tuesday, 6 May, a mini-conference will be held at Bar-Ilan University in Israel to mark the appearance of J. Klein, and Sh. Shifra's "In Those Distant Days; An Anthology of Ancient Near Eastern Poetry". Speakers will be: Prof. Shalom Paul on "Illuminating the Bible with Light from Mesopotamian Literature"; Poet Hayim Guri on "Contact with the Beginning of Poetry"; Prof. Zivah Porat on "Quieting a Wailing Infant: Lullabies from Those Distant Days and Modern Times"; and Prof. Yaaqov Klein, and Poetess Sh. Shifra. The conference will begin at 1:30 PM with refreshments and greetings from various Bar Ilan dignitaries including Dr. Moshe Zefati and Pr. Pinhas Artzi. Dr. Zefati's contributions include the translations of Sumerian love poetry to the volume at hand. The conference will take place in the Economics Building of Bar Ilan University. For more information contact Victor Hurowitz: Dept. of Bible and ANE Ben Gurion University Beer Sheva, ISRAEL victor@bgumail.bgu.ac.il MOTHER OF ALL HUMAN CLONING PROJECTS (ZNUP: London) Iraqi scientists have been given the biological challenge of cloning their leader, Saddam Hussein. A prominent Iraqi doctor who arrived in Britain from Baghdad tells The Sunday Telegraph newspaper that the dictator is fascinated by new discoveries in genetic research and has set up a cloning laboratory in Baghdad. Saddam, who celebrated his 60th birthday last week, has become obsessed with his own mortality, the newspaper says, and has been encouraged by reports that Western scientists had the technology to create human clones within two years. Western experts say Iraqi scientists have neither the expertise nor technology to make Saddam's dream come true. Professor Robert Winston, Britain's leading expert on fertility, says the project would also be difficult for practical reasons. "Given the failure rate in previous published cloning experiments, Iraqi scientists would have to transfer genes to the uteruses of 40,000 primed women to produce 100 Saddams, then they would have to wait 30 years before they look much like Saddam. Even then Saddam may be in for a hell of a shock. Clones cannot replicate anyone emotionally or culturally, only physically. You cannot create another Saddam Hussein. He is unique." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -End of Section 1 of 2 ----------------------- Headers -------------------------------- From zenda@ix.netcom.com Mon May 5 05:26:35 1997 Return-Path: Received: from dfw-ix10.ix.netcom.com (dfw-ix10.ix.netcom.com [206.214.98.10]) by emin37.mail.aol.com (8.8.5/8.8.5/AOL-1.0.1) with ESMTP id FAA27993; Mon, 5 May 1997 05:26:28 -0400 (EDT) Received: (from smap@localhost) by dfw-ix10.ix.netcom.com (8.8.4/8.8.4) id CAA25698; Mon, 5 May 1997 02:24:10 -0500 (CDT) Received: from sjx-ca55-09.ix.netcom.com(206.214.106.105) by dfw-ix10.ix.netcom.com via smap (V1.3) id sma025246; Mon May 5 02:21:48 1997 Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19970505002108.006a7780@popd.ix.netcom.com> X-Sender: zenda@popd.ix.netcom.com X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.1 (32) Date: Mon, 05 May 1997 00:21:08 -0700 To: zenda@ix.netcom.com From: ZENDA Subject: ZENDA I (Vol I,#12 ; 5/5/97) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"