Announcement
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
on
the seizure of Christian cities in northern Iraq
The
Republic of Cyprus is extremely concerned and appalled by the recent
violent seizure by extremist Islamists of the city of Qaraqosh and
other Christian cities in northern Iraq, the brutal expulsion and
persecution of the Christian communities in the region as well as the
dramatic humanitarian situation of the minority of the Yazidis.
Cyprus
has been active for a while in promoting EU joint actions aiming at
protecting the ancient Christian communities and other religious and
ethnic minorities of the Middle East. During the recent visit of
Foreign Minister, Mr. Ioannis Kasoulides to Warsaw, Cyprus and Poland
agreed on a joint initiative in the context of the EU Foreign Affairs
Council intended to formulate a long-term strategy for the protection
of the right to freedom of expression and religion.
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