Congress Recommendations of the Christian presence in Iraq
"Presence in the process of dying or of resurrection"
University of Notre Dame February 19, 2009 Louaize
Introduction:
Following the meetings that have accompanied the preparation of this conference between representatives of Churches and organizing the discussions focused on the Christian presence in Iraq, and after listening the views of lecturers and religious leaders and laymen in this regard, we reached the following recommendations:
- Recommendations for Oriental Churches in Lebanon:
- named the year 2009 as "Year of the Christian presence in Iraq," and the result of religious and cultural programs and humanitarian aid.
- Organize a day of prayer in all churches of Lebanon for Christians in Iraq.
- Training in coordination with governments concerned and leaders of churches, a senior committee of the issue of Iraqi Christian refugees in neighboring countries.
- Recommendations to the Lebanese authorities:
- awarding temporary visits to Iraqi refugees with renewable tax exemption and financial guarantees required.
- facilitate Iraqi refugees access to social services (health, education ...) in coordination with UNHCR, humanitarian organizations and the Iraqi government.
- Recommendations to the International Society and the UN .
- Organizing a conference to address the issue of "minorities in Iraq" to ensure their continuity and activate their role.
- offices opened for the United Nations in coordination with the Iraqi Government in the regions multi-religious and multi-ethnic, to monitor violations and adopt the system of protection required.
- Working with the Iraqi Government to implement the international charters on indigenous peoples.
- increase aid offered to displaced inside and outside Iraq, either directly or through the respective governments, ensuring their destination.
- Recommendations to the League of Arab States and the Congress of Islamic Countries
- Promulgation of decisions that help protect the Christian presence in Iraq and all countries of the East .
- Work with Muslim religious leaders to enact decisions advocating aggression against the Christian citizens in peaceful Iraq.
- Recommendations to the Iraqi authorities :
- Ensuring fair representation of Christians in the parliament and propose the adoption of declarations under Article 50 which has been canceled.
- Enforce Rule of Law (125) of the constitution which provides for the guarantee of human administrative, political, cultural and educational rights of different ethnic groups.
- Providing work opportunities also for all Iraqis, far from the sectarian quota and marginalization.
- Amend the constitution on the basis of citizenship adopted as a true landmark in public life, not the basis of religion or ethnicity.
- Ensuring displaced from their right of return, facilitate the restitution of their property and damaging their land that have been removed under the pretext of public interest.
- encourage emigrants to return to Iraq, invest in their regions and to enact a law allowing the return of Iraqi citizenship to those who lost under previous regimes.
- Porter attention to disadvantaged regions and accelerate the implementation of development projects to create job opportunities for residents.
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Closing Speech
"Presence in the process of dying or resurrection ..."
They are Christians of Iraq who have made their decision, they can longer stay! At the heart of suffering as their Savior has willed them, they were very supportive throughout history, but today they no longer want to live as foreigners in their own country. Always concerned, their livelihoods were falling more and more, they knew they had more room in the new state. They decided to leave.
And this move is not a luxury for them but a bitter cup because their roots in the land of Mesopotamia dating back to the dawn of history ... Today they are the unknown and the abroad they know very well that his dramas and sufferings.
In the last thirty years, more than a million Christians have left Iraq, they now have no more than three hundred thousand. And, if the bleeding continues at current human, it could end its presence in record time. Re-injury will then be added to many others in the region, injury or even a disaster the size of the Palestinian question. Because the disappearance of Christian minorities in the countries of the region converges with the projects and depuration division courses that are designed to change the East and to bathe in the dark. Thus, we are faced with two options: to accept what happens and be limited to declarations and wishes or those working hard to prevent the disaster. It is our responsibility to all of us, if not the last resort or the moment of truth.
It's now or never for the whole world realizes that the economic crisis and the collapse of financial markets can be offset so that the removal of civilizations and peoples of the map of nations can not be recovered . Because history does not live only books and museums but is embodied in the indigenous descendants of ancient civilizations.
In this context, it must be said that the UN is well aware of the seriousness of the situation, all reports of associations of Human Rights stressed the attacks against religious minorities in Iraq may lead to their imminent disappearance.
But as he returned to the United Nations the task of preserving the minority in their own countries, including indigenous peoples, the challenge we face today in the organization internationale, voire aux pays du monde entier est de procéder à un traitement réfléchi et immédiat, même si cela doit exiger l'organisation de congrès régionaux et internationaux en vue de trouver les solutions adéquates à cette crise. Car, ces populations ont droit à la vie et la vie en paix.
Et, si les Nations Unies réussissent à remédier à la situation des minorités dans leurs régions résidentielles et à les protéger, à travers le Gouvernement irakien et en coordination avec lui, elles feront de ces contrées pluriculturelles et multi religieuses un modèle à suivre qui fera la richesse Iraq.
is the moment of truth for Iraq and Iraqis, so they decide if they want to the presence of their fellow Christians. If they are, they must convince the Christians to stay and encourage those who have emigrated to return.
But what happens today is the opposite, indices are all negative and reveal an indifference vis-à-vis the departure of Christians. More worse are the attempts to lure the North or South side, from the party or the other; ceci ne pouvant que les déchirer et les disperser encore et encore.
Si vous voulez préserver vos frères chrétiens revêtez-les de leur dignité et respectez leurs particularités. Ceci doit commencer tout d'abord par la remise en vigueur de l'article 50 de la loi électorale et puis par l'initiation de la mise en œuvre des projets de développement dans les régions où les chrétiens se sont réfugiés en vue de les épargner de la pauvreté et de la misère.
Puis, avec un Irak qui va aujourd'hui vers des régions et des provinces qui rassurent leurs habitants à through modes of administrative decentralization, as stipulated in the constitution it might be beneficial to ensure greater participation of the Christian population to the functions that enable them to manage their areas coexisting alongside other minorities. If these areas happen due to be built and restored in a guarantee stability, they would not fail to bring an oasis of security within Iraq's ability to deter each other to migrate outwards .
is the moment of truth for the Arabs and Muslims!
Les efforts déployés pour lutter contre l'extrémisme et les initiatives du dialogue interreligieux sont tous de bonnes démarches et dans la bonne direction. Mais, tout le monde reconnaît qu'ils ne peuvent être suffisants pour pallier aux échéances qui pressent, sachant que leurs fruits portés jusqu'alors restent modestes et n'ont pas été traduits sur le terrain pour contenir les crises.
Une de ces échéances serait d'empêcher de mettre fin à la présence chrétienne en Irak. C'est à partir de là que l'on peut préserver l'image de cet Orient diversified. However, this equation is global and comprehensive, because ending the Christian presence in Iraq will impact negatively on all Christians of the East, because the demographic and psychological factors that relate to the Christian presence in the Eastern countries are common and interleaved.
Thus, serious and decisive measures are taken, as the convening of the Arab League held an extraordinary congress on the Christians of Iraq where decisions must be made to preserve them in their own and to facilitate any cost return of those who are refugees in neighboring countries. This cause must be that of the Muslims as it is for Christians.
And if a more comprehensive, Muslims wish to demonstrate their intention to keep the Christians in the East, the Arab and Muslim governments are faced with a challenge to civilization, not only denying spirit treachery, but by making a humanitarian project that will recognize an open living together in a perfect partnership and in a society where the right to difference and the distinction is respected.
Finally, the moment of truth for Christians
We Christians, why are we ashamed to raise the issue of our relatives in Iraq when we supported Muslim and Arab causes just all over the world have sympathized with them. This is the "Christianity" which runs to the rescue of all the dramas of humanity, and if the victim, was a Christian threatened with whom we have cultural and historical links that say so!
The cause of Christians Iraq is just. Here we defend endangered presence and compassion is to a drama that affects hundreds of thousands of refugees into neighboring countries. Thus, the responsibility of all poles and Christian institutions in East and around the world to unite their efforts and help their brothers in Iraq and the refugees outside.
This solidarity between Christians is a condition for them to continue and remain in the East. The commitment to the common fate frees them from their little problems in their countries and open to greater question, that of their existence.
Once they realize they hold the reins of their own salvation and recognize responsible for the decline of Christianity in the East, because they are estranged from their religious values, they seek to renew their Christianity and to restructure their presence on new bases and strong.
This renewal begins with the return of Christians to the primary source of faith, the denial of selfishness, limitation of competition between supporters and between people of different churches. If they do not, they vainly seek inner peace and external stability.
In conclusion,
The drama is real, the danger of extinction than short historical Christian presence is serious and urgent. For this, we hope that the efforts of rescue can begin without further delay where everyone assumes its own responsibility. If the question is for large parties, it now belongs to the general public, where everyone is expected to take over and work with the help of the media to always revive.
Here, I extend my greetings to all our Christian parents in Iraq and refugees abroad, and said, "Truly you are the candles of Mesopotamia and the heart of Iraq. Here in Lebanon, we bow down before your sufferings and pray for your martyrs. Their blood was not shed in vain, you affirm and consolidate your difficulties. "
And if they comply they tell me I imagined: "Thank you O Lebanese from all communities because you are defending our cause. We thank thee O Beirut, during which you still support the repressed, even when you yourself are tired, covered with wounds. Today, "Lady of the World", you t'enquiers of old Baghdad, the good old people. Baghdad will answer: "No, their sun will not go away and I will not say farewell to the Christians of Iraq because they are".
Finally, we thank all those who believed in our cause and compatible with us. We thank the Maronite Church and all churches in Lebanon, and all the Eastern Churches and their representatives for organizing this conference. We thank the University of Louaizé who greeted us and assisted in preparatory work. As we thank everyone who contributed to the success of this event.
May God keep our beloved East and Christians together with their Muslim brothers.
May God give you life and successfully complete this mission. Hoping to see you at the next congress, is the Dieu veut.
