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