US Congress Reaffirms Importance of Nineveh Plain for Iraq Policy

12-13-2009
The Iraq Sustainable Democracy Project

The United States Congress is continuing its direct funding support for the Nineveh Plain in an agreement coming out of Conference for the State and Foreign Operations Appropriation on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009. The core part of the final language agreed upon in conference states: "The conferees direct that up to $10,000,000 of funds be made available … to continue programs and activities to assist minority populations in Iraq, including religious groups in the Nineveh Plains region.

The Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Committee on Appropriations not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act detailing the unique needs of minority populations in Iraq, including security requirements, organizations that have received funding from the Department of State and USAID for programs to assist such populations, and the total amount of funds provided for such purposes."

Michael Youash, Project Director for the Iraq Sustainable Democracy Project, indicated that past funding allowed for the construction of primary schools, roads, provision of potable water and women's empowerment programs, among other efforts. "We trust that such programs will continue in excess of the $10 million mark for the financial year, which has been normal. Iraqi minorities strongly feel that reports on the use of prior funding will lead to improvements in the delivery of these programs, and that the Department of State will take the direction provided by Appropriations Sub-Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo in their July 2009 colloquy regarding this funding."

The July 2009 colloquy took place after the House Appropriations Sub-Committee passed the 2009 State and Foreign Operations Appropriation with $20 million targeted for defenseless minorities. Congresswoman Anna Eshoo asked if the funding was intended for the Nineveh Plains region and Chairwoman Lowey confirmed that this was the Committee's intent. The colloquy also made it clear that in addition to security and sustainable economic development programs, funding will support, "democratization programs, including the dialogue on the Nineveh Plain Administrative Unit," per Article 125 of Iraq's Constitution. Representative Mark Kirk (R-IL) proposed the funding and is a constant pillar in the effort to have a U.S. policy on ethno-religious minorities in Iraq.

Representatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Frank Wolf (R-VA), co-chairs of the Religious Minorities in the Middle East Caucus, worked tirelessly to ensure decisive language remained in the appropriation. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) sought to raise the awareness in the Senate on this critical legislation. Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) continues to demonstrate the commitment of her Committee to support defenseless minorities in Iraq. "We are so grateful to these Congressional champions and so many others in Congress who support this policy effort."

said Youash. "ISDP also thanks the numerous community organizations and individuals who rallied behind this process. The Assyrian American National Coalition continues to show its dedication to community mobilization, the Assyrian National Council of Illinois, the Assyrian Aid Society, the Assyrian Mesopotamian Organization, the Assyrian American Association of San Jose, and the Assyrian American National Federation and many of its affiliates." Assyrians (also known as Chaldeans and Syriacs), Shabaks, Yezidis, Turkmens, Mandaeans, and other defenseless Iraqi minorities are fighting for survival in their homeland.

The principled support of the United States Congress in that struggle for their survival demonstrates that these minorities are not forgotten, are not alone, and that such concerted efforts will bring about a coordinated policy between the United States and Iraq. www.iraqdemocracyproject.org The Iraq Sustainable Democracy Project's (ISDP) research and policy analysis maintains that the Assyrian (also known as Chaldean and/or Syriac) people and Iraq's other, real minorities (e.g. Turkmens, Shabaks, Yezidis, Mandaeans and others) are the best variable for leveraging the formation of a genuine and sustainable democracy over the long term.

For the United States, Iraq's real minorities are also the truest 'moderates' as defined by the National Military Strategic Plan for the War on Terror. As such, they are a key element in the fight against extremism in Iraq and the Middle East as a whole. ISDP works to ensure that these minorities are factored into policy development accordingly through research, policy analysis and advocacy for all relevant stakeholders.