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June 25, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) –The San Diego East County Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce has issued a statement on the escalating violence in Iraq.
“The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce is deeply saddened by recent atrocious events in Iraq. Our Chamber is working with Iraqi Dignitaries and Iraqi Parliamentary leaders to pledge for the safety of Iraqi Christians in the region. Our Chamber has been in dialogue with the Kurdistan Regional Government; to both thank them for their commitment to the cause and providing safe haven for our fellow Chaldean, Assyrian and Syrian communities,” the statement indicates. “Chamber President Ben Kalasho has been working diligently via Skype, telephone and emails to try and assist in mutual diplomatic talks between key groups in the region.”
In 2006 , Kalasho was offered a position in the Kurdish government to assist the Assyrian Parliamentary Chair.. Kalasho is a first generation Iraqi who speaks Arabic and Chaldean (Aramaic) This position was turned down by Kalasho.
The statement continues, “Today Iraq faces a different crises then that of 2006. Our Chamber believes that the future of Iraq lay in the hands of moderate Muslims who need to stand up against such odious behavior. In addition, we believe that spreading western democracy in Iraq is a poorly thought out plan that is getting a lot of civilians killed. “
Kalasho stated, “A key to the stabilization of Iraq and the Middle East will be the introduction of equal treatment and status between males and females.”
His statement echoes a similar sentiment voiced by Mark Arabo, a Chaldean community leader and CEO of the Neighborhood Marketing Association, in a radio interview with East County Magazine that will air on Wednesday at 5 p.m. on KNSJ 89.1 FM. Though Arabo has backed a rival Chamber group, on this issue, the two leaders are of like minds as Chaldean Christians in Iraq are being massacred by ISIS, an Islamic terrorist group with ties to Al Qaeda.
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