Iraqi PM meets American Chaldean delegation in Washington on Christian community rights

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — Ghazwan Elias, director of the Iraq office of the American Chaldean Community Foundation in Michigan, met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zeydi in Washington to present a detailed file on the situation of Iraq's Christian community, the foundation's Iraq office said. Elias said the delegation presented a working paper calling for stronger administrative, political, cultural and religious rights, expanded representation in state institutions and the effective application of constitutional protections for Christians in Iraq. The paper also called for accelerating the reconstruction of towns and villages on the Nineveh Plain, launching service and development projects, and creating conditions conducive to the return of Christian families who left the country years ago, according to Elias. He said al-Zeydi assured the delegation that security and stability would be maintained for Christian citizens and invited Iraqi Christians abroad to return and take part in reconstruction and investment efforts. Community representatives told the prime minister they were prepared to establish economic partnerships in education, health and the petroleum sector. No further details on specific projects or timelines were immediately available.