Zowaa's Response to Mullah Bukhtyar

ZOWAA – Baghdad

The following declaration was released by Mr. Sargon Lazar member of political bureau and chief officer of public relations of the Assyrian Democratic Movement; states as follows:

We are deeply puzzled by what Mullah Bakhtyar chief officer of relations in the Patriotic Union Of Kurdistan said in an interview with Al-Mallaf Press, which goes as follows; Quote (( What is common knowledge to all that peoples have the legal right in declaring their region or country if they possess a historic and geographical land, but Turkmans and Chaldo-Assyrians are mere residents in Kurdistan and have the rights of full citizenship; but possess no Turkman or Chaldo-Assyrian land in Kurdistan and Iraq)) end quote.

Such statements are absolutely unacceptable in part and parcel; and can be in the least described as a reflection of an undemocratic attitude influenced by the culture of the near bygone period; the totalitarian and nation melting culture of exclusion of other nations.

This is not what we expect from a prominent officer in the Patriotic Union Of Kurdistan; an ally with a national leading role in the national fraternity, partnership and the enhancement of the concepts of pluralism and freedoms. As for our nation and peoples; that need no introduction for they are well known as the aboriginal people of Iraq; in spite of our declined population in our homeland recently for known reasons made possible through futile attempts of ethnic marginalization and fear policies, all the afore mentioned cannot and will not pass by as an excuse to confiscate our legitimate national rights.

As for the alleged non-existence of a Caldo-Assyrian land; all we have to do is take a look at the history of the land of Mesopotamia, and we will see that all of Mesopotamian land ((Kurdistan included)) is the inheritance of the nation that descended from the Babylon and Ashur Civilizations. And presently (if in question) the loyalty to the homeland (Iraq) is the undisputed heartthrob of our nation that has no equal in its past and present sense of belonging to its roots, and the ever proud nation of its history and culture; these are the sons and daughters of our Chaldo-Assyrian Syriani Nation, who are deeply rooted in this land and they are not resident guests as they are described by Mr. Bakhtyar; for the owner of the house can never be a guest in that same house.

We are confident that Mr. Bakhtyar's statement does not reflect the views of the leadership of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.