Speaking to ANF, the co-chair of Syriac Union Party Senherib Bersum congratulated Christmas to all Christians and the peoples of the Middle East.

Bersum stated that Erdogan has turned anyone who does not think like him an enemy, and wants to remove them, “He attempts to carry out massacres against people similar to what was done during Ottoman era. This was candidly visible after the occupation of Afrin,” he said.

‘We the Syriacs have participated in the Democratic Self-Administration’

Bersum congratulated Christmas the birth of Jesus to all Christians, the Syrian people and the Middle East. “At a time when we are celebrating Christmas, the Turkish state is threatening us. In an attempt to undermine our Democratic Self-Administration project, Turkey plans to occupy northern and eastern Syria. We the Syriacs have united with the Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen and other minorities to participate in this project,” he said.

‘Not only the YPG, Turkey has aimed at everyone’

Senherib emphasized that the Syriacs oppose Turkish attacks and said: “If there is an operation, it will not be limited to a certain group, it will target all peoples of northern Syria. Not only the YPG, the attack will target the civilians.”

‘With Afrin occupation, they showed how brutal they are’

Bersum reminded that Erdogan has put efforts in reviving Ottoman era, purging the people, adding: “He want everyone with a different idea eliminated. He wants to continue the massacres committed by the Ottomanians. He showed his true face with the occupation of Afrin. They killed our people there, now they want to repeat that somewhere else.”

‘The Syriacs throughout the world will rise up against Erdogan and occupation’

Bersum said that if Turkish states launches occupation campaign, the Syriacs, not only in Syria, but all over the world will oppose that, adding: “No one wants Turkey attacking and occupying our lands. The Syriac people have suffered a lot from massacres and crimes led by Turkey’s chauvinist mentality. We will not bow to Erdogan, and we will not allow similar incidents to be repeated.”

‘We should unite’

Bersum noted that the only alternative for the Syriacs in northern Syria is to unite with other Christian communities as well as other people in the region, saying: “We should unite so that we would be able to defend ourselves.”

If the Turkish states invades our region, the Syriacs will rise against the attacks through military, political and diplomatic means, and for our homeland not to be occupied, we will use all available resources.