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Questions on constitutional RIGHTS for CHALDO-ASSYRIANS IN IRAQ raised in UK Parliament 

 
London, Wednesday 22 June 2005 (KRG) ­ During a debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday 21 June, one day prior to the EU Iraq conference in Brussels, Edward Leigh MP asked the Rt. Hon. Jack Straw, UK Foreign Secretary if the Government will press for new elections to be held in the Chaldo-Assyrian areas of Iraq and for the establishment of an autonomous region for the Chaldo-Assyrians in northern Iraq.

Mr. Straw responded that "All sections of the community-the majority Shi'a, the Kurds and the Sunni-understand that if they are to maintain their aim of keeping Iraq together, albeit within some sort of federal structure, the constitutional arrangements have to be acceptable to all three communities. Although it will be difficult getting there, I believe that that will be achieved".

Regarding the question of autonomy, Dr. Kim Howells, Minister for the Middle East responded "The Chaldo-Assyrians in northern Iraq rejected the idea of such an autonomous administrative region as they fear that it would make their community more, not less, vulnerable to attack".

The central issue dates back to the January elections and allegations that 150,000 Chaldo-Assyrians, who are of the Christian faith, were prevented from voting. The failure of voting in certain areas was due to the fact the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq (IECI) did not deliver sufficient ballot papers. The estimated 150,000 people affected were not only Chaldo-Assyrians but included huge numbers of Kurds and people from other groups.

During the debate, Michael Connarty MP contributed that "I attended a meeting yesterday with the High Representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government to the UK and I read the speech of Masoud Barzani, the new President of the autonomous region, in which he welcomed all the people, including the Chaldo-Assyrians, who have places in the assembly of northern Iraq. They are happy to be there and have made no demand for a separate assembly." 

The full quote referred to by Mr Connarty in His Excellency Masoud Barzani's inaugural speech reads "Turkomen and Chaldo-Assyrians are our respected brothers and sisters, and we will do whatever is within our capability and authority for the sake of their well-being. We all live together on this land. Our destiny, our joys and sorrows, are common. We consider ourselves their advocates and defenders of their rights."

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.

In the areas under Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) administration, three ministers are of Chaldean or Assyrian origin; Sarkis Aghajan Mamendu, Deputy Prime Minister, Yonan Marqus Hanna Minister of Industry and Energy and Yousif Hanna Yousuf, Minister for Regional Affairs. In 1992, the year Kurdish self rule began, the democratic elections for the Kurdistan National Assembly resulted in five seats being allocated to the Christians of the region.

Since 1991 Chaldo-Assyrians have been able to publish newspapers, run television and radio broadcasts in their own language and establish their own political parties. Within the KRG administered area more than 30 Assyrian language schools have been supported by regional government funding and more than 20 Churches have been restored.

The regional Government and all the peoples of Kurdistan are now working together to secure a better future based on shared values and principles. They are working towards a democratic, pluralistic, secular and federal political system in Iraq, one based on cooperation and consensus.

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Who are the Christians of Iraq?  

Questions on constitutional RIGHTS for CHALDO-ASSYRIANS IN IRAQ in UK Parliament  June 24, 05

Evangelicals Building a Base in Iraq June 24, 05 

Turkey's discrimination against Assyrian naturalised European citizens June 24, 05 

Syria Stonewalls Prosecution of Murderers of Two Assyrians  June 21, 05

Appreciation for Iraq's Historic Heritage June 20, 05

Interview with Donny George Director of Baghdad Museum June 20, 05

Mar Delly meets Mar Dinkha in Chicago June 20, 05

Assyrian Brothers Delivering Democracy  June 20, 05

Mystery Which Shrouds Iraq's Missing Artifacts  June 19, 05

Letter to His Holiness Mar Emmanuel III Dally and His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV June 16, 05

Historical references to the Assyrians and Assyria after the fall of Nineveh June 18, 05 

Why chaldean clergies undermine the future of Christians in Iraq? June 18, 05

Jordan leads hunt for Iraq's looted treasures June 16, 05 

Assyrians around the world, Fans of Assyriska June 16, 05

Iranian Bombings May be Connected with Minorities, Election.  June 15, 05

Using Mass Media to Spread the Gospel in Iran  June 15 , 2005

Dishonoring the Christian women June 12, 05

Iraq's Jihad: Past as Prologue  June 9, 05 

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Iraqi Activists Call for A Democratic Constitution June 9, 05

The Current Situation of the Indigenous Assyrians of Iraq  June 8, 05 

A Song for Assyriska June 8 ,05  

Ancient church hosts Diyarbakr festival performances in Turkey  June 8, 05

Between Iraq and a safe place  June 8, 05

Minority groups in Iraq face tough times  June, 3, 05  

New Assyrian archeological site in northeastern Syria  June 2, 05 

Iraqi Christian Campaigns Struggle  May 31, 05 

Assyrians the Indigenous People of Iraq  May 31, 05

Picnic an Assyrian family reunion May 31, 05 

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Liars Should Have Good Memories: Muslim Abuse A Smokescreen  May 26, 05 

US Investigating Fate of Assyrian Man Missing in Iraq  May 25, 05 

Assyrian church sees first ceremony in 25 years May 25, 05

Fleeing Iraqi Christians on road to Damascus  May 24, 05 

Murdered Assyrian American hostage not a pilot  May 24, 05  

Deadly Car Bomb Explodes Near Iraq School  May 24, 05 

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An Ignored Genocide  May 22, 05 

Hunting the Christians  May 21, 05

Assyrian doctrine holds him to faith  May 21, 05

Early Assyrian Churches and Monasteries in northern Iraq  May 20, 05

Patriarch denounces U.S. evangelicals in Iraq  May 19, 05 

Muslims against terrorism  May 18, 05

Indigenous People Among World's Poorest  May 17, 05

Rafsanjani: Iraq developments impact region  May 17, 05 

President bush Meets with the Assyrian Representative in Georgia May 13, 05 

International Congress of Assyriology and Near Eastern Archaeology May 13, 05

Iraq chooses Christian Asyrian woman as science minister May 12, 05

Confessions of an Honest Kurd; Assyrian & the Armenian Genocide May, 11, 05 

Assyrian Iraqi woman, 70, granted asylum  May 11, 05

News from Peesh-Khabor May, 9, 05

Young Assyrians Participated in the Netherlands Marathon  May 9, 05

Iraq's Recent and Ancient Past May 9, 05

Former Minneapolis resident works to bridge divisions in Iraq  May 9, 05

Iraq's government is too confessional, says Bishop  May 8, 05

The Assyrian Church of the East Patriarch Visits Iran  May 5, 05

Assyrian Candidate John Kanno Runs for Congress  May 3, 05

IRAQ: Focus on increasing displacement in Kirkuk  May 3, 05 

Assyriska & the Assyrian Struggle Are Inseparable May 3, 05

Why Should Turkey acknowledge the Assyrian Genocide, 915-1918? April 28, 05

Australian MP about Assyrian Veterans   April 28, 05

Assyrian Appointed As Minister of Science and Technology April 28, 05

Syria releases 16 Assyrians from Prison April 28, 05

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Seyfo commemoration and demonstration in Brussels April 25, 05

Assyrians in Brussels Mark 90th Anniversary of Turkish Genocide  April 25, 05 

A Speech about Assyrians at the Australia's Legistlative Council   April 05

Plundering the properties of Jesus and Mary April 05 

The 90th Commemoration of a Denied and Occulted Genocide!  April 22, 05

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IRAQ: Religious and ethnic minorities want rights enshrined in new constitution  April 20, 05 

ARMENIAN CONVERTS IN TURKEY BRAVELY AVOW THEIR NATIONALITY April 19, 05

Why Chaldean Churh Refuses to Acknowledge its Assyrian Heritage?  April 17, 05

Turkey Encouraging Displaced Christian Assyrians to Return  April 16, 05

Swedes wooed by Assyrian migrants' soccer magic  April 16, 05

A forgotten page of nation  April 15, 05 

The Islamic Republic Of Iraq?  April 12, 05 

Assyrian Christians Raise Alarm Over Iraq Elections, Representation April 12, 05

Iraqi Christians in Jordan can't stay, can't leave   April 12, 05

Celebration of the Assyrian New Year in Tur-Abedeen Turkey April 10, 05

ASSYRIAN COMMUNITY OF ARMENIA CELEBRATES NEW YEAR April 11, 05

Exiles living in Phoenix area hail changes in Iraq  April 11, 05

Pope, example of humility to Iraqi Christians  April 11, 05

Assyrians pray for shock in Swedish league debut April 11, 05

A late report about Kha b'Nissan Celebrations in Australia  April 10, 05

MIDYAT CITY OF STONE 

Re-emergence of discredited Ilisu Dam project April 9, 05

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In Iraq, thanks for man who gave help and hope April 9, 05

Photos of Assyrians Celebrating the Kha b'Nisson New Year in Tur-Abedeen Turkey  April 5, 05

Assyrian Candidate Runs for Congress April 6, 05

Turkish Nationalism Reflected in Southern Town's Growing Homogeneity  April 5, 05

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Turkey Allows a First Assyrian New Year Celebrations April 4, 05

Sadness and fear in Iraq Because of Pope John's Death  April 3, 05

Picures of the Assyrian New Year celebration in Germany April 4, 05

Pictures of Assyrians in Syria Celebrating the Kha B'Nissan April 1, 05

Pictures of Parade in Baghdad celebrating the Assyrian and Babylonian New Year  April 1, 05

Baghdad priests pray for pope, remember appeals for peace April, 1, 05

Kurds Prevent Assyrian Representation, Continue Divisive Formula in Iraq March 28, 05

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Church of martyrs, The Plight of the Christians in Iraq  March 26, 05 

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Relations between Chaldeans and Assyrians?  March 25. 05

ADM Rep: favors a "Nineveh Plain Christian Province" March 24, 05 

Mahdi Army Beats Assyrian Female Student to Death  March 23, 05

The Plight of Iraqi Children  March 23, 05

Iraq's endangered church looks to Western fellowship for helpMarch, 22, 05

Iraqi Christians Longing to Be Heard  March 22, 05  

"Chaldeans" Living in Semblance of their True Identity  March 22, 05 

Iraq's Assyrians Seek Voice in New Government March 19, 05 

EXODUS, Many Christians Flee Iraq, With Syria the Haven of Choice March 19, 05

Ansar al-Sunna claims killing of Christian Iraqi general March 18, 05 

Bishop Gabriel Kassab Visits London March 17, 05 

The Christian minority want to be like yeast in the dough March 17, 05

KRG statement regarding the situation of the Christian minority in Iraqi Kurdistan March 17, 05 

A Nun's Message of Hope March 16, 05

Christians of Syria and Mesopotamia are not Arabs  March 15, 05

An open letter form Turkey to the people of the world. March 14, 05

The persecution of the Christians in Iraq  March 14, 05

 

 

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