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Published by
Zenit.org,
November 18, 2004
Western Media Misinforming
About Iraq, Says Kirkuk Prelate
Chaldean Archbishop Sees Hope in
Elections |
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KIRKUK, Iraq, NOV. 18, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The
Chaldean archbishop of Kirkuk criticized Western
media "misinformation" about his country and
insisted that Iraqis are looking forward to
elections "because they will be useful for
national unity."
"It is not all death and destruction," explained
Archbishop Louis Sako in an interview Tuesday
published by AsiaNews.
"Much is positive in Iraq today," he said.
"Universities are operating, schools are open,
people go out onto the streets normally." He did
acknowledge that "where there's a kidnapping or a
homicide the news gets out immediately, and this
causes fear among the people."
Yet, "there is no organized resistance" in Iraq,
the prelate insisted. "Those who commit such
violence are resisting against Iraqis who want to
build their country.
"Iraqis instead are resisting against terrorism
and are not carrying out attacks, which instead
are the work of foreign infiltrators. I have
stressed this before: Saudis, Jordanians, Syrians
and Sudanese have entered Iraq. Prime Minister
Allawi has said this as well. And clearly, there
are also Iraqi collaborators who, for money, help
the terrorist hide."
According to Archbishop Sako, to overcome this
crisis, Iraqis must "manage themselves."
"We have a government now that is setting up
elections, and those who want to run for
government can do so, freely," he explained.
The archbishop said that the "war being fought by
the terrorists is senseless." If they want an
"open, modern and democratic Iraq" they "can
register to vote, negotiate with the new
government, and use the instruments of dialogue,"
he stressed.
Convinced that the elections in January "will be a
starting point for a new Iraq," the prelate
observed that instead "Western newspapers and
broadcasters are simply peddling propaganda and
misinformation."
"Iraqis are happy to be having elections and are
looking forward to them because they will be
useful for national unity," he said. "Perhaps not
everything will go exactly to plan, but, with
time, things will improve. Finally Iraqis will be
given the chance to choose.
"Why is there so much noise and debate coming out
from the West when before, under Saddam, there
were no free elections, but no one said a thing?"
Asked about attacks against Christian churches,
Archbishop Sako explained that "Christians can be
a tool for balance in Iraqi society and want to
build a new and open Iraq which respects
everyone's rights."
"The war in Iraq is not one of religion. And I
would like to say this to terrorists ... we are
peaceful and in favor of dialogue," he said. In
fact, he emphasized, true Muslims have "condemned
the attacks against Christians."
Archbishop Sako criticized Europe's absence from
the scene.
"Europe is absent, it's not out there; the United
States is on its own," he said.
Europe "must help the Iraqi government to control
its borders to prevent the entry of foreign
terrorists," but "also provide economic help to
encourage a new form of culture which is open to
coexistence, the acceptance of others, respect for
the human person and for other cultures," the
Chaldean prelate said.
"Europe must understand that there is no time to
waste on marginal or selfish interests: The entire
world needs peace," he warned.
In the archbishop's opinion, Europe must act
"because Europeans know the Middle East better
than the Americans, they are culturally closer to
Arabs, they are very familiar with the Palestinian
problem and the situation in the Middle East."
"The Middle East needs help to rediscover peace
and usher the Muslim countries into contemporary
society, with its foundation of democracy and
freedom. If the Iraqi model fails, it will be a
disaster for everyone. These terrorist groups will
gain strength around the world," he said.
Adding that he is optimistic about the future of
his country, the archbishop of Kirkuk asked
Western Christians to pray "not only for their
fellow Christians, but for all Iraqis." Even "a
hardened heart can be touched by God," he said.
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