President of Chaldean Community Foundation in US Martin Manna meets with Prime Minister of Kurdistan Region of Iraq Masrour Barzani

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) Masrour Barzani made an official visit to the United States, where he attended a ceremony marking the signing of two agreements between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and US companies.

During the event, held at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., Barzani met with Martin Manna, President of the Chaldean Community Foundation in the US. Manna used the opportunity to urge the KRG to safeguard the Christian community’s existence and enhance its role within Iraq’s national fabric.

The discussion highlighted the challenges faced by Iraq’s indigenous Christian communities, including threats to their survival and diminished representation in the country’s sociopolitical landscape. Manna emphasized the importance of protecting their historical presence and amplifying their contributions to national cohesion amidst ongoing regional instability.

Manna also submitted a formal memo to the US Trump Administration, detailing the dire circumstances of Christians in Iraq and the KRI. The document called for increased international engagement to uphold their rights and ensure their continued survival in their ancestral homeland.

The meeting underscored the KRG’s potential role in fostering inclusivity and protecting minority groups in the region, while also drawing attention to the broader need for global support in addressing these urgent issues.