Sweden (AINA) -- The Swedish liberal party Folkpartiet issued last week a special report on Assyrians in Iraq and Syria, titled Mellanöstern Brinner (The Middle East Is On Fire). The report focuses on the difficulties facing Assyrians as a Christian minority in the Middle East and presents necessary steps for their continued existence in the volatile area. The main point of the report is the necessity to establish the Nineveh plain area in Northern Iraq as a federal entity under the governance of Assyrians and other minorities living there.

"This is completely in accordance with Iraq's constitution and is a must if Assyrians will remain in that country," said Fredrik Malm, foreign affairs spokesperson of Folkpartiet, during the release of the report in Stockholm. "Any long term solution for continued Assyrian existence in Iraq cannot overlook the importance of the Nineveh plain solution."

The Assyrian Federation of Sweden expressed its support for the report and vowed to continue its advocacy for Assyrian rights. "We welcome the report and look forward working with Folkpartiet on these issues," said Mr. Afram Yakoub, President of the Assyrian Federation of Sweden.

The report is the first time a western political party has addressed the concerns of Assyrians in a comprehensive manner and signals an increased interest in non Muslim peoples of the Middle-east.

Folkpartiet is one of four political parties in the coalition which governs Sweden. The party has 24 out of 349 seats in the parliament, making it the fourth largest political party.