Hopeful in Iraq

Archbishop Avak Asadourian, primate of the Armenian Orthodox Church of Iraq and secretary general of the Iraqi Council of Christian Church Leaders, said he was pleased with the level of public participation in the recent Iraqi elections. “There was a high level of participation among Christians, as well,” he said. “Now all we are waiting to see is which direction the government will take. We hope that the guiding principle of action will be to ensure peace and security to the nation,” he said. “The Christians have hopes for a stable and strong government. We are citizens of Iraq and we have been in this land, our home, for millennia. Politicians leading the country say they hope that Christians will remain in the country and continue to contribute. We ask them not to remain in good intentions, but to put them into practice through works,” ensuring a peaceful life to Christian minorities, who are still under fierce attack.