Sarkis Aghajan Mamendo
Encyclopedia
Sarkis Aghajan Mamendo (born 1962) is an Iraq
i Assyrian
politician who was appointed Minister for Finance and Economy in the cabinet of Iraqi Kurdistan
on 2006-05-07.
He was born in Diyana, Arbil Governorate, and is part of the Assyrian Nochiya Tribe
. He was elected into the Kurdistan National Assembly
in the first Iraqi Kurdistan election in 1992. In the previous cabinet, Sarkis Aghajan Mamendo was the Minister for Finance and the Economy from 1999 to 2006, and Deputy Prime Minister from 2004 to 2006 in the Arbil
& Dohuk administration.
whose family origins are from the district of Shamezdin in the Hakkari Province
. Aghajan appears to owe his ascendancy within the Kurdistan Democratic Party power structure to his personal relationship to Nechervan Idris Barzani
, the Kurdish prime minister. His supporters say that as young men, the two were forced to flee Iraq with their families in 1975, after the United States
withdrew support for the Barzani clan, and grew up together on the Aghajan family estate in Iran. He is known within the Assyrian community throughout of northern Iraq
for helping rebuild Churches, roads, schools and Assyrian villages. He is also the one who helped fund the new Assyrian channel (Ishtar TV
) which is broadcast in three languages (Arabic
, Kurdish
and Assyrian
).
as a way to honour his work with the Assyrian Christian community in Iraq. Aghajan was awarded the title, which is one of the highest and most widely recognized pontifical orders, for his contribution to the Assyrian community and his work for Christians in Iraq.
Many Assyrian non-governmental organisations accuse Aghajan of being used by the Kurdistan Regional Government
to beautify its image in order to annex Assyrian settlements in Nineveh plains
to their region. It has been speculated that he utilises US
funding authored by the Assyrian American congresswoman Anna Eshoo
for rebuilding Assyrian settlements, although, he personally claims that the many is raised by Kurdish political parties.
He also finances his own militia which is accused of assaulting Assyrian candidates during the 2009 Governorates Elections in Nineveh.
In 2010 he halted all financial funds to Christian Communities, a step was seen as a mean of excreting control on the Chaldean Catholic clergy in the country.
after an organised killing and displacement campaign
, in which more than 13 people died. A relative of revealed that Aghajan had begun to fear his fate several months ago. He was quoted saying:
Aghajan was officially replaced with Bayiz Saeed Mohammad with the KRG stating that Mohammead was the finance minister since May 2006 even though Aghajan was the finance minister up till the time of the events in October 2008.
In Summer 2009, Sarkis appeared in his palace in Ankawa
presumably returning from a medical vacation outside the country.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i Assyrian
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
politician who was appointed Minister for Finance and Economy in the cabinet of Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
on 2006-05-07.
He was born in Diyana, Arbil Governorate, and is part of the Assyrian Nochiya Tribe
Nochiya Tribe
The Nochiya Tribe , are an Assyrian Christian tribe that were based in and around the district of Şemdinli, in the province of Hakkari, Turkey. The word "Nochiya" means "between the mountains" in the Kurdish language...
. He was elected into the Kurdistan National Assembly
Kurdistan National Assembly
The Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament or IKP is the parliament of Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraqi Kurdistan. The IKP is made up of representatives from the various parties, lists or slates that are elected every four years to serve by the inhabitants of the provinces of Iraqi Kurdistan currently...
in the first Iraqi Kurdistan election in 1992. In the previous cabinet, Sarkis Aghajan Mamendo was the Minister for Finance and the Economy from 1999 to 2006, and Deputy Prime Minister from 2004 to 2006 in the Arbil
Arbil
Arbil / Hewlêr is the fourth largest city in Iraq after Baghdad, Basra and Mosul...
& Dohuk administration.
Activities
Sarkis Aghajan Mamendo is an AssyrianAssyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
whose family origins are from the district of Shamezdin in the Hakkari Province
Hakkari Province
Hakkâri Province is a province in the south east corner of Turkey. The administrative centre is located in the city of Hakkâri . The province covers an area of 7,121 km² and has a population of 251,302 . The province had a population of 236,581 in 2000.The province was created in 1936 out of...
. Aghajan appears to owe his ascendancy within the Kurdistan Democratic Party power structure to his personal relationship to Nechervan Idris Barzani
Nechervan Idris Barzani
Nechirvan Idris Barzani , or ) is a Kurdish politician in Iraqi Kurdistan. He served as the prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government from March 2006 to August 2009...
, the Kurdish prime minister. His supporters say that as young men, the two were forced to flee Iraq with their families in 1975, after the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
withdrew support for the Barzani clan, and grew up together on the Aghajan family estate in Iran. He is known within the Assyrian community throughout of northern Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
for helping rebuild Churches, roads, schools and Assyrian villages. He is also the one who helped fund the new Assyrian channel (Ishtar TV
Ishtar TV
Ishtar TV is an Assyrian Chaldean Syriac broadcasting channel which has its headquarters in Ankawa, Iraq. It was established by Sarkis Aghajan and was led by George Mansour, who was Ishtar TV's first General Manager, in 2005. The language broadcasts mostly in Syriac, but Arabic and Kurdish are...
) which is broadcast in three languages (Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, Kurdish
Kurdish language
Kurdish is a dialect continuum spoken by the Kurds in western Asia. It is part of the Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian group of Indo-European languages....
and Assyrian
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
Assyrian Neo-Aramaic is a Neo-Aramaic dialect, spoken by an estimated 220,000 people , formerly in the area between Lake Urmia, north-western Iran, and Siirt, south-eastern Turkey, but now more widely throughout the...
).
Awards and controversies
In August 2006, Sarkis was awarded the "Knight Commander of the order of Saint Gregory the Great" by Pope Benedict XVIPope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
as a way to honour his work with the Assyrian Christian community in Iraq. Aghajan was awarded the title, which is one of the highest and most widely recognized pontifical orders, for his contribution to the Assyrian community and his work for Christians in Iraq.
Many Assyrian non-governmental organisations accuse Aghajan of being used by the Kurdistan Regional Government
Kurdistan Regional Government
The Kurdistan Regional Government , , is the official ruling body of the predominantly Kurds-populated Kurdistan Region in Northern Iraq...
to beautify its image in order to annex Assyrian settlements in Nineveh plains
Nineveh plains
Nineveh plains is a region in the Ninawa Governorate of Iraq to the north and west of the city Mosul. The area generally consists of three districts; Tel Keppe, Al-Hamdaniya, and Al-Shikhan...
to their region. It has been speculated that he utilises US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
funding authored by the Assyrian American congresswoman Anna Eshoo
Anna Eshoo
Anna Georges Eshoo is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, which includes part of Silicon Valley, includes the cities of Redwood City, Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Palo Alto...
for rebuilding Assyrian settlements, although, he personally claims that the many is raised by Kurdish political parties.
He also finances his own militia which is accused of assaulting Assyrian candidates during the 2009 Governorates Elections in Nineveh.
In 2010 he halted all financial funds to Christian Communities, a step was seen as a mean of excreting control on the Chaldean Catholic clergy in the country.
Disappearance and reappearance
There is growing speculation that the Assyrian Finance minister Aghajan is missing, with many believing he is ill or has been the victim of an assassination. While the media in North Iraq has been careful with the controversy. Aghajan has not been publicly seen since his visit to churches and halls back in October 2008 when more than 20,000 Assyrian had been displaced from MosulMosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
after an organised killing and displacement campaign
2008 attacks on Christians in Mosul
2008 attacks on Christians in Mosul was a series of attacks which targeted the Christians Mosul, Iraq. The Christians of Mosul which were already targeted during the Iraq War left the city en masse heading to Assyrian Christian villages in Nineveh Plains and Iraqi Kurdistan.Both Sunni extremists,...
, in which more than 13 people died. A relative of revealed that Aghajan had begun to fear his fate several months ago. He was quoted saying:
Aghajan was officially replaced with Bayiz Saeed Mohammad with the KRG stating that Mohammead was the finance minister since May 2006 even though Aghajan was the finance minister up till the time of the events in October 2008.
In Summer 2009, Sarkis appeared in his palace in Ankawa
Ankawa
Ankawa , is an Iraqi Christian town of about 30,000 people, in practice a suburb of Arbil, Erbil Governorate in Iraqi Kurdistan, northern Iraq...
presumably returning from a medical vacation outside the country.
External links
- http://www.newsmax.com/timmerman/Kurdistan_minister/2008/05/01/92542.html
- http://christianityinkurdistan.blogspot.com/2008/02/sarkis-aghajan-mamendu.html