Russia Supports the Rights of Iraq's Christians

May 28, 07

Moscow (AINA) -- On March 22 the Russian Assyrian Committee and Moscow Assyrian Ethno-Cultural Autonomy Organization received an official answer from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the establishment of an Assyrian autonomous region in North Iraq. The letter was signed by A. Kinshuk, Deputy Director of the Department for Middle East and North Africa. The letter states:

"The majority of Iraqi Christians are residing in the Kurdish autonomous region, where the situation is safer than in Sunni and Shiah provinces. In our work regarding Iraqi issue we take into account the particular qualities of Christian confessions living in this country. In our contacts with representatives of Iraqi authorities and international partners we delicately try to let them understand the need of ensuring conditions for preserving of original culture of Iraqi Christians, their adequate representation in Governmental structures, achievement of civil peace considering legal interests of all confessions and non-admission of discrimination of ethno-religious minorities."

On March 30 Michael Margelov, the chairman of the Upper Chamber's Committee for International Affairs, in his interview with the federal broadcasting channel Russia, said that "the rights of Iraqi Christians, Assyrian and Chaldeans, should be taken into consideration. The US must stop ignoring them."