(AINA) -- A delegation of Assyrian politicians from Iraq is on a visit to various European countries to sound the alarm on the critical situation of Assyrians (also known as Chaldeans and Syriacs) in Iraq. The delegation has traveled to Berlin and The Hague, and will next travel to Stockholm. Members of the delegation are Assyrian politicians from local and provincial governments in Iraq as well as the Iraqi parliament.

According to Mr. Khalis Staifo, member of the Iraqi parliament in Baghdad, "60% of the Assyrians have left Iraq in the last six years. We do not want to come and live in Europe, we want to stay in our homeland. But if no one protects Assyrians they will emigrate to Europe and other countries. All 5 Assyrian members of the Central government are in agreement on this, and the the 5 of us are working hard for this issue."

In Holland the delegation visited the Dutch Parliament and had a meeting with several members of parliaments. Mr. Joel Voordewind and mr. Korteoeven expressed sympathy and support. They asked the delegation for official reports about the situation of the Nineveh plains. They also expressed support for an Assyrian administered province (AINA 11-18-2010) and asked the delegation to keep them informed on what the Iraqi central government will say about such a province.

Mr Joel Voordewind visit North Iraq in 2008 (AINA 4-15-2008) and spoke with more than 100 internally displaced Assyrians in the Nineveh Plains.

The delegation explained that Assyrians have more than 4500 armed men to protected the churches, schools and villages in Assyrian provinces. The salaries if these men are paid by Assyrians because the central government does not legally recognize them.

At the meeting with the Dutch Parliament, Attiya Gamri, of Assyria Council of EU, and Shlimon Haddad, of Assyrian Universal Alliance (Netherlands), said the Netherlands government should put more pressure on Arab and Kurdish politicians to address the issue of the safety and security of Assyrians in Iraq.