Washington, DC, USA (us.gov.krd) – Minister Safeen Dizayee, Head of the KRG Department of Foreign Relations, met with representatives of the Chaldean Assyrian community of America on Friday, July 9, to discuss the role of the diaspora and security and economic issues that are of mutual concern.

In an online meeting hosted by the Kurdistan Regional Government Representation in the United States, Minister Dizayee met with Martin Manna of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Adhid Miri of the Chaldean Community Foundation, Carlo Gangeh of the Assyrian Universal Alliance, Ismat Karmo and Guiliani Younan of the Nineveh Council of America, and Umid Ali of the Global Peace Foundation. KRG Representative Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman moderated the discussion.
Minister Dizayee set out the KRG’s policy of equal opportunities and peaceful coexistence and pointed out that Ainkawa in Erbil Province is now the largest Christian settlement in the Middle East and that it is still growing, reflecting the culture and stability of Kurdistan.

Mr. Manna and Mr. Gangeh said the diaspora community in Michigan, Illinois, California, and elsewhere in the United States is concerned about lack of jobs among Chaldeans and Assyrians in Kurdistan, land disputes and the strikes by Turkey that have impacted Christian areas and villages in the region. They also expressed concern about demographic and security changes in Nineveh.

Minister Dizayee said the KRG shares many of the same concerns and that the destiny of all components in Kurdistan is shared. He acknowledged that there are problems that need to be addressed and said that Prime Minister Masrour Barzani had established a ministerial committee to address issues such as land disputes.

Both sides welcomed the ongoing open dialogue and the strong connection between the KRG Representation in Washington with the diaspora in the United States.