Bethnahrin National Council concludes annual conference

01/06/2026

BETH NAHRIN — The Bethnahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo d’Bethnahrin, MUB) convened on 29 May for its annual conference with the participation of members in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, and Germany. Amidst ongoing crises in the Middle East, the conference underscored MUB’s determination to further promote organized national representation, realize political demands, and the crucial role that the Syriac people can play in restoring the regional balance.

From the headquarters in Switzerland, the conference commenced with a moment of silence in memory of martyrs. Following the opening speech by MUB President Mikhael Naim Hadodo, the agenda was put to a vote and approved, after which the reports from the various institutional departments were presented for formalization.

The presidential report was presented first and focused on “the statelessness and destruction caused by the divide-and-conquer policies, and the national struggle waged against these policies.” The report highlighted the efforts to organize and transform, despite the dispersion of the Syriac people, the majority of whom live abroad in the diaspora, the Syriac people into a people with united political demands.

The presidential report pointed out that despite the Syriac people and their struggle being affected by the shifting balances in the Middle East and e.g. the adverse impacts of the conflict in Syria, they have not abandoned their demands. “We continue our struggle until our people achieve their national rights,” the report concluded.

Subsequently, the combined reports of the central executive departments and the regional and national divisions were presented. After a political evaluation, the reports provided an overview of completed work and the areas and projects where the objectives had not been achieved. After a review of the text and constructive criticism regarding the existing shortcomings, the combined reports were submitted for approval and adopted.

After reading, reviewing, and approving the financial report, the strategic plans and goals for the regional divisions were presented. These plans were approved after adjustments were made based on the feedback received.

Another agenda item was the evaluation of the candidates nominated from the regional divisions and departments for admission to the MUB General Assembly. All candidates and recommendations were accepted. Also, a preparatory committee was established for next year’s MUB Congress, and the tasks and powers of this committee were determined.

Closing statement by President Mikail Hadodo

MUB President Hadodo delivered the closing address, in which he evaluated and assessed past efforts. In his speech, Hadodo touched upon several critical points: “The conference we have organized must provide answers to the period we are going through, the events we experience, and the challenges we face. Our work so far demonstrates that we are capable of providing these answers. History labels us ‘cowards.’ But does cowardice not lead to betrayal? Of course it does. Are we, or were our ancestors, really traitors? If we were traitors, would we not have abandoned our identity? Yet, neither our ancestors abandoned their identity, which is why they were massacred in 1915, nor have we abandoned our identity, our history, or given up on ourselves. This proves we are neither cowards nor traitors. Until now, however, we have lacked national organization and collective political decisiveness as a people. We are working to break this cycle, to change history, and to organize our people into an assertive people.”

The MUB President also noted that the Syriac people have long lacked a continuous tradition of organized national struggle. “Unfortunately, our ancestors did not leave us a tradition of active national struggle. Instead, a certain mindset took root. We are trying to change this mindset.” He added that “either we leave a new legacy for future generations, or we will cease to exist.”

In the final section of his speech, Hadodo asserted that through their ongoing national struggle, they have ended a two-thousand-year-old fragmentation on all fronts and paved the way for unification: “We are at the same time Syriac, Chaldean, Assyrian, Aramean, Melkite, Maronite, and Mhallami. For the first time, 40 years after initiating our struggle, we have come to realize that denominational, regional, and sectarian thinking and practices have harmed us. To date, we have exerted every effort to overcome this.”

Expressing that the Syriac people are an indispensable force for establishing the balance being sought in the Middle East and must act with this awareness, the MUB President concluded: “We embarked on this path not for individual concerns or personal gains, but for collective and national gains. On this path, we did not encounter sheep or lambs; on the contrary, we faced wolves and vultures. Despite all of this, we stand firmly and will continue to do so. Ultimately, both we and the Kurds have a role to play across the Middle East. We will either squander this role with counterproductive questions, or we will achieve victory through a new understanding and struggle based on the unity and advancement of our people. Everyone must recognize and accept our people’s struggle, demands, and rights. Through the struggle we have waged so far, we have paid a heavy price, but we have a struggle, we have a vision and we have a cause for the future. I wish everyone success in bringing this cause to a victorious conclusion.”

Following the closing address by MUB President Mikhael Naim Hadodo, the conference concluded with applause and slogans. It was announced that the final declaration of the conference will be shared in the coming days.