(AINA) -- On January 28, 2012 the Assyrian Association of Belgium invited writer and activist Ashur Giwargis and others to Brussels to discuss with officials of the European Union a safe haven for the Assyrians in North Iraq. After meeting the officials in the European Parliament and the European Legation, Mr. Giwargis declared that he was convinced the majority of the Assyrian people will support the project.

Mr. Giwargis, along with Assyrian activists, met the Coordinator of Iraq affairs in the European Parliament, Mr. Strowan Stevenson. According to Mr. Gewargis, the main purpose of the meetings was raise to awareness of the project of the safe haven and to discuss it with the European officials, and to seek every European country's support.

The Assyrian issue has not been properly raised, either in Iraq or internationally, in accordance with the United Nations 2007 declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. European officials showed much understanding in the meetings and expressed support for a safe haven for the Assyrians.

According to Giwargis, a safe haven is required because the Assyrian people in Iraq are at the edge of an abyss because of Islamization and Kurdification policies. He also stated that there had to be a good solution since the Assyrians have grown weary of Iraqi promises of safety, since more than two thirds of the Assyrian people have been forced out of their lands since 2003.