Today, Mrs. Kader was received by ArchBishop Antoine Camilleri, UnderSecretary of the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State, Holy See, accompanied by Archbishop Ortega Martin from the Secretariat of State as well.
ArchBishop Camilleri asked the High Representative to introduce him the current situation in the Kurdistan Region and the rest of Iraq in the light of recent events and the official position of the Presidency of the region, as well as the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Mrs. Kader has communicated to ArchBishop Camilleri that the presidency of the Kurdistan Region, had already alarmed the central government in Baghdad of the danger posed by the rebels Isis, who were preparing to launch a major offensive in western Iraq.
The government of al-Maliki has failed to adequately represent all the components of Iraq and never took seriously the threat from the rebels Isis.
In this context, the peshmerga forces have been made ​​available to the defense of the Kurdistan Region and also those areas of contention, of Kurdish majority, like Kirkuk, in order to protect the Kurdish people and to guarantee freedom and democracy, as well as the huge energy resources in the area, despite the lack of financial support from Baghdad.
In addition, the Kurdistan Region is offering shelter and assistance to refugees from the rest of Iraq, which are adding up to the Syrian refugees, to the Christians persecuted in the rest of Iraq and in the Middle East and to all Iraqis tired of instability and lack of security in Iraq.
The Presidency and the Kurdistan Regional Government have repeatedly said that the main priority at the moment is not to occupy any territory, but rather to defend the rule of law and peaceful settlement of the situation at the political level by forming a new government of national unity in which all components are represented. In this way, the Prime Minister Al Maliki should step aside to allow the restoration of peace and the building of a new Iraq.
In addition, the Kurdistan Region is offering shelter and assistance to refugees from the rest of Iraq, which add up to the Syrian refugees, persecuted Christians in Iraq and the Middle East and all Iraqis tired of instability and lack of security in Iraq .
In particular, the Christian component has been put under strict control in the heart of Erbil, and the government has opened schools, churches and other facilities to enable them to accommodate the huge influx of families. Once the situation will be stabilized and villages rebuilt, Christians will be able to return to their homes.
In this context, the support of the international community and of the Holy See is crucial, especially to deal with the humanitarian emergency in progress, the reconstruction of damaged villages in the supply of electrical generators and food. In particular, the visit of a delegation from the Holy See would be of great comfort to the local Christian community and an important demonstration of solidarity.
ArchBishop Camilleri thanked Mrs. Kader for the example of tolerance and religious coexistence and for humanitarian assistance for Syrian refugees and Christians in the territory of Kurdistan until now, and especially in light of recent events. In addition, ArchBishop Camilleri reassured Mrs. Kader that the representatives of the Holy See on site, in particular the Apostolic Nuncio, together with Christian NGOs, are doing everything possible to provide all necessary assistance and that the Holy Father is following very carefully the events on site.