Eastern Christians: after Russia, France must act

For the executive director of l’Œuvre d’Orient, Mrg Pascal Gollnisch, the Christians of Syria and Iraq need deeds, not words: neutralizing Daech, France must act and exercise its mediating force.

While a new foreign minister takes office, we tried to assess anew the situation of French diplomacy. If the Syrian situation is the subject of many reviews, the Iraqi context less attention of the specialists

For eighteen months since the drama began in Mosul, the Islamic State has grown considerably, seizing inexplicably Palmyra and Ramadi. If the latter was taken over by the Baghdad forces, if yézedie area has been partially released, there has been nothing of the Christian settlement area, especially of the great Christian city of Qaraqosh.

The truth is that the Christian settlement area is not a priority for Baghdad, concerned about its own security or for Kurdish primarily concerned about the Kurdish autonomous territory. The responsibility of the international community is concerned. Without it the Christians can return home, which would mean the victory of EI.

Refugees are totally desperate. They thought they could go home quickly, and they see that nothing moves. Without a strong, significant signal on the field, they will all want to leave Iraq and will launch in the spring in the crazy adventure of migration towards Europe. The efforts of the meeting of 8 September, to be extended by a follow-up meeting in Spain, as the February 23 meeting in Paris on humanitarian aid may become moot. If minorities are leaving Iraq, especially Christians and Yezidis, IE will have triumphed.

The Christians of Syria and Iraq need deeds, not words. France must act. It must exercise its mediating force. Its credibility is at stake.

Read the entire article on Figaro website