CHRISTIANS IN MOSUL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 00028



E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR

TAGS: PINS IZ

SUBJECT: CHRISTIANS IN MOSUL



1. (C-ENTIRE TEXT)



2. ON DECEMBER 29 AMBASSADOR CALLED ON SENIOR

CHRISTIAN CLERIC RESIDENT IN MOSUL, CHALDEAN

ARCHBISHOP GARMO (STRICTLY PROTECT),

FOR DISCUSSION OF CHRISTIAN CONDITIONS IN

MOSUL AREA.



3. GARMO TOLD US THAT HE DID NOT EXPECT ANY

FURTHER DISTURBING OF CHRISTIAN VILLAGES. AS

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED, WHAT RELOCATION THERE HAS BEEN

HAS BEEN OVER FOR WEEKS. THE CHRISTIAN (NOT JUST

CHALDEAN) VILLAGES TO THE NORTH OF MOSUL IN THE

AREA AROUND TELL KAYF ARE EXISTING NORMALLY.

(A SUBSEQUENT VISIT TO SEVERAL OF THOSE VILLAGES

CONFIRMED THAT THIS IS THE CASE.)



4. THE TWO CHIEF ISSUES ON THE PATRIARCH'S

MIND, GARMO SAID, ARE THE CHRISTIAN DESIRE TO

OBTAIN PERMISSION FOR CHRISTIAN TEACHING IN THE

SCHOOLS, (THIS IS ALLOWED ONLY IF THE STUDENT

BODY LS 51& CHRISTIAN),AND THE WISH FOR SOME

KIND OF NEWSLETTER.



5. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PATRIARCH HAS NOT BEEN ABLE

TO OBTAIN AN APPOINTMENT WITH SADDAM FOR SOME

TIME. WHILE THE "UNPRECEDENTED" CHRISTMAS

GREETINGS FROM SADDAM TO THE PATRIARCH ON

CHRISTMAS EVE HAD RAISED HOPES, THEY WERE DASHED

WHEN SADDAM CONTINUED TO PUT OFF THE PATRIARCH,

BUT DID RECEIVE THE CHALDEAN ARCHBISHOP

RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TINY CHALDEAN LEBANESE

COMMUNITY.



6. LOCALLY, THE GOVERNOR IS UNFAILINGLY

PLEASANT, BUT WILL TAKE NO INITIATIVE. THE

ARCHBISHOP, THEREFORE, RELIES ON THE HEAD OF

SECURITY FOR MOSUL, A NEW APPOINTEE

WHO HAS SO FAR PROVED HELPFUL AND COMPASSIONATE.

BUT THIS IS A WEAK REED, AND THE CHURCH WOULD

NATURALLY PREFER TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE TOP. IN

THE CASE OF SOME SERIOUS PROBLEM

THE CHRISTIANS STILL REGARD THEIR ACE IN THE

HOLE TO BE ADNAN KHAIRALLAH'S FATHER,

WHO IS ACCESSIBLE AND HAS BEEN HELPFUL DURING

DIFFICULT TIMES IN THE PAST.



7. IN VISITING MONASTERIES AND VILLAGES NORTHEAST

AND SOUTHEAST OF MOSUL, EMBASSY OFFICIALS

DID SEE MONEY BEING SPENT BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR

THE CHRISTIANS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SPANKING

NEW VILLAGES, MARKED "SADDAM MODEL VILLAGE,"

AND THE 4TH CENTURY MONASTERY AT MAR BAHNAM

HAS RECEIVED AN EXPENSIVE FACELIFTING INSIDE

AND OUTSIDE, INCLUDING EXPENSIVE NEW MARBLE FACING.





GLASPIE