Baghdad (AsiaNews) – "I don't have precise figures about the flight of Christians from Iraq, so I can't make any comment, but 40,000 people is really a high number. We must restore security and ensure once again that Iraqis –be they Muslims or Christians– live together peacefully."

Speaking to AsiaNews Mgr. Fernando Filoni, Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq, could not hide his concerns for the growing number of Iraqi Christians and Muslims fleeing. He called on the international community and the United Nations to do more for the country.

Mgr. Filoni refrained from speculating about the figures the Iraqi minister for Displacement and Migration provided to the media. "The figure is truly high," the nuncio said. "Since I cannot work out the accurate number myself I think we need to be careful. I can neither confirm nor refute them, but, still, they seem very high. What's more, the estimates are based on families, not individuals.

Have you been contacted by any families leaving the country?

We know that entire families are leaving home and work behind and that the problem is spreading. Parish priests are telling us of families just packing up and leaving. But we do not know if the figures mentioned correspond to the actual situation. The church bombings did make people more nervous. Before, they were much more confident.

What do Iraqi Christians expect?

Everyone expects the same things, not only Christians. The first goal is to restore conditions allowing everyone to live together and in security. After that, comes the need for a job, and it is not the least important. How else can they support their family! These needs are not specifically Christian, but are common to the entire Iraqi population. Peaceful coexistence, security, jobs must be guaranteed for all Iraqis!

As it has been said time and again this shows that Christian and Muslim civilians are united by the same feelings.

Of course! We have always spoken about Iraqis without making any distinctions between Christians and Muslims. Confessional identity is secondary. What really counts is sharing the same Iraqi identity and the need to coexist peacefully.

Is it desirable that the international community intervene to solve the Iraqi crisis?

Theoretically, the United Nations have already intervened. Never the less, the good will of all the parties to the conflict is necessary to translate good intentions into deeds. This is the key. If the parties are truly interested in stabilising and pacifying the situation, if there is a genuine will to find solutions, everything else will fall into the right places. (DS)