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KRG statement regarding the situation of the Christian minority in Iraqi Kurdistan

16/03/2005 KRG-Nordic Representation 
Due to some recent speculations regarding the situation of the Christian minority in Iraqi Kurdistan and unfounded allegations directed towards the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in its treatment of this vulnerable group, the Nordic Representation of KRG would like to issue the following statement:

While we do not have authority outside the KRG-area, we condemn the recent violent attacks against Christians and other minorities in areas within the jurisdiction of the federal government in Iraq. We are deeply concerned that the multi-national forces and Iraqi law enforcement units have not been able to effectively stop these acts of violence.

In the areas under KRG, three ministers are of Assyrian or Chaldean origin, Sarkis Aghajan Mamendu (Deputy Prime Minister), Yonan Marqus Hanna (Minister of Industry and Energy) and Yousif Hanna Yousuf (Minister for Regional Affairs), in addition to the Deputy Governor of Dohuk. In the 1992 elections for Kurdistan National Assembly five seats were allocated to the Christians of the region.

Since 1991 Assyrians and Chaldeans have been able to publish newspapers, run television and radio broadcasts in their own language, and establish their own political parties. Within the KRG-area more than 30 Assyrian language schools (consisting of almost 10,000 students and more than 500 teachers), have been supported by government funding; more than 20 Churches have been restored and renovated. This is not the case in the rest of Iraq. Contrary to unfounded allegations against the KRG, Christians recently fleeing to the KRG-administered areas in fear for their lives have been offered all necessary aid and protection.

In the January 30 elections, three Christian political groups joined the Kurdistan Alliance List (Assyrian National Party, Chaldean Democratic Union and Bait Nahrain Democratic Party). As a result of this inclusion in the Kurdistan coalition, Christian candidates managed to enter into the Iraq Transitional Assembly. Unfortunately for the inhabitants of some areas in Mosul governorate, too many votes were lost during these elections, particularly affecting Assyro-Chaldeans and Kurds, as well as Kurdish refugees (in Soran region) returning from Iran. We regret that the authorities in Mosul and Baghdad failed to secure the right of these individuals to vote at such as decisive moment of democratic transition in Iraq and in Kurdistan. Election administrators within KRG-area had no involvement in these events against which we have submitted complaints to the Independent Election Commission of Iraq.

The people of Kurdistan are now working closely together to secure the safety of the region and to secure a better future based on shared values and principles so that we can establish a democratic, pluralistic, secular and federal political system in Iraq based on cooperation and consensus with the rest of Iraq to create necessary conditions for peaceful co-existence of the country's constituent units.

On behalf of KRG's Prime Minister, Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, we are prepared to officially invite any sincere international fact-finding mission to visit the region in order to establish the facts on the ground.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)

Editors Notes;

On the surface Kurds allow christians some minimal rights but are oppressing them in other ways.

Recently they prevented the inhabitants of the Assyrian villages in northern Iraq from voting.

They are gradually invading the Assyrian towns and villages which have served as a refuge for the christians where they have lived for thousands of years.

Kurds have been historically responsible for the oppression and the exile of the christians form their homeland.

Presently they have established military presence in some Assyrian towns and villages only to intimidate the inhabitants and drive them out.

The best way to protect the christians of Iraq from the institutional oppression is to allow them to have a security zone where they can administer their affairs without interference from the Kurds or Arabs.

They should be provided their fair share of economic benefits as the other Iraqis. They should be able to teach their own schools and language without being forced to promote Kurdish political propaganda.

An official international fact-finding mission should investigate the christian situation in northern Iraq.
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KRG statement regarding the situation of the Christian minority in Iraqi Kurdistan March 17, 05

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