US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Meets With Assyrian Officials
GMT 12-14-2010 5:4:0
Chicago (AINA) -- Michael Corbin, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of State, met with the Iraqi Christian Relief Council, representatives of the Assyrian Democratic Movement and Assyrian American National Coalition of Illinois on Tuesday, December 7. The meeting was spurred by the October 31 church massacre at our Lady of Deliverance Syriac Catholic church in Baghdad, in which 58 Catholic Assyrians were killed by members of the Islamic State of Iraq, an Al-Qaeda affiliate.
A genocide has been ongoing in Iraq since June 26, 2004, when the first church was bombed. 66 churches have been bombed since then, and thousands of Assyrians killed. Nearly 50% of Assyrians have fled to Syria and Jordan
Assyrian representatives raised several critical issues with Mr. Corbin, including the need for security for all indigenous peoples of Iraq, the establishment of an Assyrian autonomous region, per Article 125 of the Iraqi constitution, humanitarian aide for Iraq's displaced Assyrian refugees and their repatriation. Assyrian representatives stressed to Mr. Corbin the need for American support and involvement in creating a province for Assyrians of Iraq.
A follow-up meeting with Deputy Assistant Secretary Corbin is scheduled to take place in ninety days.