PAPAL NUNCIO CLAIMS DECREASING SUPPORT FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002539

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/12/2018
TAGS: PHUM KIRF KREF IZ
SUBJECT: PAPAL NUNCIO CLAIMS DECREASING SUPPORT FOR
AUTONOMOUS ZONE

Classified By: Pol MinCouns Robert Ford for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with Special Advisor Krajeski
and PolOffs on August 7, Papal Nuncio Archbishop Chullikatt
claimed that there is decreasing support within the Christian
community in northern Iraq for an autonomous zone as the
solution to problems of security and marginalization. From
his recent trip up north, he said the Christian community
feels security is improving but is seeking more local
autonomy, whether as part of the KRG or GOI. Chullikatt
claimed that if the USG can build some more schools, create
new employment opportunities, and help provide basic services
such as fixing water pumps, then the Christian communities
would stay in Iraq. He said the security situation has
improved for Christians in the last two years, but there
needs to be additional work. He highlighted the importance
for the communities of local autonomy and Christian
representation in both local security teams and police
forces. He visited Christian IDPs, whom he said have been
integrated and welcomed into the local communities.
Regarding an upcoming minorities conference, the Papal Nuncio
was unsure whether it should be in the framework of a larger
interfaith conference or be a separate conference. END
SUMMARY.

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Improved Security
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2. (C) Papal Nuncio Archbishop Chullikatt told Special
Advisor Krajeski and PolOffs on August 7 that, based on his
observations during his recent travel, the Christian
community in north Iraq feels security is improving. The
Papal Nuncio traveled to Qara Qosh in Hamdaniya on August 5
for a church opening ceremony and spent several days visiting
Christian towns in the Ninewa Plain and in the KRG. He
characterized overall conditions as "positive," and said the
towns are safe due to local Christian security forces. He
was impressed that local Christian security officials in each
town coordinated visitor movements between towns, which
helped them effectively assess security threats. He added
that these Christian forces coordinate with Kurdish
Peshmerga. S/I Krajeski added that Christians have joined
the Iraqi Police, which the Papal Nuncio said was an
important development. He said the situation was different
in Mosul, which is still an unsafe area for Christians and
the threat of kidnapping persists.

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Self-Government, Not Autonomous Zone
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3. (C) The Papal Nuncio said that, unlike in previous
visits, he heard no one in the Christian community discuss
forming an autonomous zone within the KRG, an idea advanced
by KRG Finance Minister Sarqis. His impression is that the
"Sarqis plan is being phased out." Instead, the communities
are asking for a form of self-government in their towns,
either as part of the KRG or GOI. He said the priority for
the Christian community is improving their quality of life
through the building of schools, improving basic services
such as water supplies, and providing more job opportunities.
He asked for USG aid in areas such as Qara Qosh, Bartella,
and Accra; and said that "if you help the minorities, they
will stay in Iraq." He emphasized that although the
situation has improved for Christians in the last two years,
there still needs to be additional support for the
communities.

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Christian IDPs
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4. (C) During his visit, the Papal Nuncio visited Christian
IDP camps, which he said had been integrated into local
communities and could not be easily identified as IDP camps.
He said that the local Christians made the IDPs feel welcome
in the communities and helped them find homes and employment.
He added that the IDPs are only aware of support coming from
Sarqis and asked for aid from the USG.

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Interfaith Conference
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5. (C) PM Malik told the Ambassador July 29, a few days
after his return from the Vatican, that he plans to host an
"Islamo-Christian" conference in Iraq. The DCM followed up
with Maliki's Chief of Staff on July 30; he confirmed that
Maliki had met with Chaldean Patriarch Emmanual Delly and
publicly announced that the conference would take place, and
that the PMO is forming an interfaith committee to plan it.

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The Papal Nuncio said he had not heard many details about the
conference, but agreed with S/I Krajeski that it should be
sponsored by the GOI and take place in Iraq. He said Iraq
needs intercommunal dialogue to address misunderstandings
between Muslims (including Kurds from the KRG) and
Christians; he was unsure whether a minorities conference
should be part of a larger interfaith conference or be a
separate conference.


6. (C) COMMENT: The Papal Nuncio's report that the
autonomous region idea is not the best solution for Christian
communities conforms with the views of the Vatican and Iraqi
Christian leader Cardinal Delly. Previous reporting has
shown conflicting viewpoints among Christian communities
about establishing an autonomous zone. His description of
Christian IDPs was more positive than is sometimes described
by U.S.-based Christian and minority organizations; as has
been reported by Ninewa PRT, the Christian IDP camps fare far
better than IDP camps of other groups, such as Kurdish
minorities. We will work with the Papal Nuncio in
identifying projects that can be aided by USG support.
CROCKER