Key notes
- Building bridges with other communities
- How to utilise the prize money for the benefit of the nation
- Promoting the name of her nation to the world
In this part of our interview with founder and President of Iraqi Christians Relief Fund (ICRC), Juliana Taimoorazy talks about ICRC’s policy of engaging with different organisations and communities, both in the US and abroad.
Ms Taimoorazy shares stories of her work with members of Jewish organisations, "Every time I have a meeting with any Jewish organisation, the name of Assyrians is mentioned".
She says she has met many members of the Jewish community in Israel that were not aware that Assyrians still exist and are often surprised to hear it. She says, "From the depth of my heart, I want to tell you that Jewish people in Israel show so much delight and happiness that Assyrians are still on the face of the Earth.”
She says many people she spoke with in Israel tell her that Assyrians are the closest people to Jews - they share the same language roots and many traditions.
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In the US and Canada, Ms Taimoorazy says many in the Jewish communities there are aware of Assyrians because there has been much interaction between the two communities, such as in the city of Chicago.
When asked what she would do with the Nobel Peace Prize money (almost $1.6 million US dollars) if successful, the President of ICRC says, “I have been giving it a lot of thoughts, and believe me and truly I mean this, if I am lucky to be the winner, I would use the money to help our nation, with this amount of money, many doors will be opened to our cause.”
I don't differentiate between our people, for me, Assyrians, Chaldeans and Syriacs are components of my nation.
“There are many projects in my mind that will help to preserve and develop the language, traditions and the culture of our nation. These are the things I am planning to use the prize money for.”
Ms Taimoorazy works without discrimination and the Council has offered aid to all people of her nation. She says for her, Assyrians, Chaldeans and Syriacs are all the same, they are all part of one nation, her nation.
Finally Ms Taimoorazy says she is thankful for the people of her nation who showed their support and she asks them to pray for her so that she may win the Nobel Peace Prize for her nation.
