30/08/2023

Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East stresses importance of unity of Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people in Iraq

ERBIL, Iraq — Commenting on the necessity of solidarity between Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian religious and political bodies Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Mar Awa III Royel stated in an interview with ANB that the Church is in constant contact with the political parties of Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people in Iraq.

“After the Iraqi elections in 2021, the image of our nation’s future became clearer in the necessity of joint action,” the Patriarch stated. “The results of the recent elections demonstrated the need for our parties to come together.”

Patriarch Awa II Royel added that there is now an alliance of five political parties, referring to the Athra Alliance, which is comprised of the Bethnahrin Patriotic Union (Huyodo Bethnahrin Athroyo, HBA), the Assyrian Patriotic Party, Abnaa al-Nahrain, the Assyrian Democratic Movement (Zowaa), and the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian Popular Council. “Only one or two parties remain [outside the Alliance], and we are trying to bring them into this alliance,” he said.

The date for holding elections in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) is in February 2024, and further preparations are required.