Three priorities

“Unity, natural resources and reconciliation”: these, for Msgr. Jean Sleiman, Latin archbishop of Baghdad, are the three priorities that Iraq is called to face today in order to emerge from its domestic crisis. The recent attacks against Christian churches in Baghdad and Mosul, that caused numerous deaths and casualties, dramatically brought to the fore the theme of the security of Christians and of the entire Country. Msgr. Sleiman, currently attending meetings to discuss the situation on health programs under way in Iraq with the many national Caritas across Europe, paved the path that will restore hope to the Iraqi population in an interview with SIR Europe.Unity. “The unity of Iraq – explained the archbishop of Lebanese origins – is a very difficult issue that does not only regard Kurdistan’s autonomy. Indeed, the same request regarding the South of the Country was submitted by a Shia party, while the project of the Plane of Ninive envisages the creation of a protected area for Christians in that strip of land. Twice Iraqi bishops rejected this project, but unfortunately it hasn’t been dismissed altogether. Ninive is a province, and its capital city is Mosul, with a currently Sunni majority, marked by the presence of Al Qaida and of Muslim fundamentalists who will never accept the division of their province and have already made threats. Indeed, Christian autonomy is regulated by the Kurdish autonomous government. War clouds are hovering, and Christians would act as buffers between the Kurds, the area of Mosul, and the rest of the region, whilst not all those living in the area of Ninive are Christians. Christians’ independence is only apparent. Indeed, Christians emigrate and long to go elsewhere, they fear the attacks of fundamentalists. However, if they were to be isolated they would be playing right into fundamentalists’ and terrorists’ hands. Isolation is not inscribed in Christians’ DNA”. Defending minorities. As envisaged by legislation, underlined Msgr. Sleiman, “the government is tasked with defending minorities, notably Christians. As relates to security, a number of steps have been made, although much still needs to be done. Citizens’ security – not only that of the minority groups – can be ensured only by a strong government whose powers extend to the entire Country. Until this happens we will continue facing hardships and difficulties. And armed militia will certainly not solve the problem. Weapons are the prelude to even harsher wars and conflicts. There should be no weapons except for those of the authorities in charge”. According to the archbishop, these elements are evidence of “difficulties in the establishment of the unity of diversities, that include Sunni, Shia, Kurds, Yazidi and other minority groups. Iraq is not the only Country experiencing a melting pot. The U.S. is a clear example of this, and for this, they should be the first to help Iraq. My fear is that if three autonomous administrations were created in Iraq – namely in the North, Centre and Southern part of the Country – civil war would be just around the corner”.Natural resources. Another question raised by Msgr. Sleiman regards natural resources’ ownership and exploitation, which is linked to the internal divisions. “Who does oil belong to?” the archbishop asks. “Does it belong to the entire nation or does it belong to the Shia, the Sunni or the Kurds? A bill on oil has not been enforced also because of clashes opposing the central government and the Kurd regional administration, which was negotiating agreements with foreign oil-companies. This standstill is also favoured by ambiguities in the Constitution. Who does water belong to: does it belong to the Sunni, since water flows through their cities?”. “Natural resources belong to the entire Country”, is the archbishop’s response. Reconciliation. The third urgent issue regards internal reconciliation. “Leaving the Iraqis to themselves could trigger serious problems”, the archbishop said referring to the US troops’ withdrawal from large cities. However, he pointed out, “that of the Americans is not a real and true withdrawal but a redeployment of the armed forces. The US troops also acted as policemen and I don’t think this is a task that falls within the province of armed forces like the marines. It’s very unlikely that this redeployment of troops will change much vis à vis the local situation, although it bears a symbolical and political value for the government in office”.