With continued attempts by the Iraqi opposition to marginalize legitimate Assyrian representation in ongoing deliberations, three U.S. Congressman have sent a terse letter to the U.S. State Department expressing concern over the undemocratic nature of the Iraqi National Assembly (INA) meetings. The bipartisan letter was spearheaded by Democratic U.S. Congressman Rod Blagojevich of Illinois. The letter was cosigned by Democratic Congresswoman Anna Esho, an Assyrian from California and Republican Congressman Frank Wolf of Virginia.

The letter is seen as a major first step for Assyrians as they begin to mobilize political support for more equitable and just respect from the U.S. State Department and the until now flagrantly undemocratic Iraqi opposition. With continued attacks against Assyrians in Iraq by certain elements of the Iraqi opposition, the letter is believed to specifically serve notice to the U.S. State Department, Mr. Ahmed Chalabi of the Iraqi National Congress (INC), and the predominantly Bahdinani Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) that the U.S. Congress will not accept the continued marginalization and disenfranchisement of Assyrians in Iraq.

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Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington DC 20515-1305

Support Democratic Change in Iraq

Make Sure the Iraqi Opposition Includes ALL Ethnic Groups in Iraq

Dear Col1eague:

Next week an historic meeting of the Iraqi opposition will be held in New York. This meeting, the Iraqi National Assembly, is being convened to plan for the end of Saddam Hussein's brutal regime and the establishment of a democratic government.

The Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-338) set the stage for the United States to support this effort. However, the Assyrian community in Iraq is grossly underrepresented in the Assembly. The Iraq Liberation Act states that the Iraqi opposition must "[I]nclude a broad spectrum of Iraqi individuals, groups, or both, opposed to the Saddam Hussein regime," and "[A]re committed? to fostering cooperation among democratic opponents of the Saddam Hussein Regime" in order to receive U.S. support.

Assyrian makeup almost 10 percent of the population of Iraq, and are the largest Christian group there; yet they have only been permitted token representation by other groups in the Assembly. If the United States wishes to see Saddam Hussein replaced with a functioning democratic government, we must insist that the groups we support now be democratic and inclusive. Please join me in signing the below letter to Secretary Albright to ask her to ensure representation for Assyrians is included in the Iraqi National Assembly.

Because of the impending opening of the Iraqi National Assembly, we hope to send this letter to Secretary Albright on Monday October 25, Please contact Gregory Adams at x54061 if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Rod R. Blagojevich Member of Congress

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Congress of the United States
Washington DC 20515
October 26, 1999

Dear Madam Secretary:

We write to express our concern about the upcoming meeting of the Iraqi National Assembly planned for October 29 through November 1, 1999. We urge you to use all the resources of your office to ensure that this meeting will include a diverse group of representatives of the various factions opposing Saddam Hussein's regime.

This historic meeting is expected to include close to 300 representatives of groups who oppose the brutal rule of Saddam Hussein. Unfortunately, it appears that the process of selection has been skewed to prevent the participation of certain ethnic and religious groups. In particular, we fear that the Assyrian community of Iraq has been grossly under-represented. Assyrians make up close to ten percent of the total population of Iraq, and are the most significant Christian minority there. Despite this, the Assyrian community has been told that it can only send token representation to the Iraqi National Assembly. The exclusion of the coalition of the three major Assyrian organizations further stifles the voice of the Assyrian community.

The Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-338) requires that organizations that receive support from the United States government, "[I]nclude a broad spectrum of Iraqi individuals, groups, or both, opposed to the Saddam Hussein regime," and "[A]re committed . . . to fostering
cooperation among democratic opponents of the Saddam Hussein regime." It would seem that the current configuration of the Iraqi National Assembly violates this principle, first by not permitting the Assyrian community a number of seats in the Assembly proportional to their population in Iraq, and further by only permitting Assyrian representatives appointed or selected by the Iraqi National Congress to participate in the Assembly.

We feel strongly that the Iraqi National Assembly cannot be considered a truly representative body unless the full diversity of people in Iraq is represented. The Iraqi people must make the decisions that will guide their future. But since the United States government is footing the bill for this event, existing law requires that the United States ensure that the Iraqi National Assembly is a truly representative body. We urge you to insist that the Iraq National Assembly include ample representation for all four major Assyrian organizations so that the Iraqi Assyrian community can be properly represented.

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you prior to October 29, 1999.

Sincerely,

Rod R. Blagojevich, Member of Congress
Frank R. Wolf, Member of Congress
Anna G. Eshoo, Member of Congress