Kurdistan Region of Iraq Applauds House Resolution Calling for Protection of Religious Minorities
Legislation Reinforces Need for the Implementation
of Iraqi Constitution Article 140
WASHINGTON, 24 February 2010 – The Representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (KRG) to the United States today expressed support for the passage of H. Res. 944, a resolution introduced by Rep. Gary C. Peters (D-MI) calling for steps to be taken to protect religious minorities in Iraq. The Kurdistan Region is home to a diverse collection of ethnic and religious groups—including Chaldeans, Syriacs, Assyrians, and other Christians, Sabean Mandeans, and Yazidis, Turkomans and Arabs. Consistent with requests made by the resolution, the KRG has made repeated calls for full adherence to the federal constitution, which has provisions designed to protect these groups.
“The resolution introduced by Congressman Peters reinforces the need for swift implementation of Article 140 of Iraq’s federal constitution, which will put to rest conflicts over Iraq’s disputed territories—issues that have indirectly led to the neglect, and at times, oppression of religious minorities in these areas,” said Qubad Talabani, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s representative in the U.S.
The disputed territory issue, if left unresolved, has the potential to contribute to the degeneration of the situation in Iraq . As stated in the House resolution, these minority groups “…are caught in the middle of this struggle for control and have been targeted for abuses and discrimination as a result.” Article 140 of the federal constitution was written and approved to solve this situation, as it calls for a referendum by the people within the disputed territories to determine their own destinies. Since the approval of the federal constitution, the KRG has worked to implement Article 140.
In his official floor statement during debate on the resolution today, Congressman Gary C. Peters said: “This resolution calls upon the combined efforts of the United States Government and United Nations to ask the Iraqi Government to protect religious minorities by encouraging free and fair elections, training Iraqi security forces and providing safe places to worship.”
Contact:
Tom Squitieri, KRG US liaison office
Phone: +1-202-257-7984
Email: tom.squitieri@krg.org
The Kurdistan Regional Government Liaison Office – U.S.A. is registered as an agent of the Kurdistan Regional Government under 22 U.S.C. § 611 et seq
This has been distributed by Qorvis Communications, LLC on behalf of the Kurdistan Regional Government. More information is available at the US Department of Justice, Washington , DC .
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February 25, 2010
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