French President urges Iraqi President Fouad Massoum to protect Christians

(IraqiNews.com) The French President, Francois Hollande called his Iraqi counterpart, Fouad Massoum to ensure the protection of minorities, especially the Christians in Iraq, during a telephone conversation, as announced by the French presidency in a statement.

The French President expressed his deep concern about the persecutions against Christians, who are a key component in Iraq, by the insurgents of the Islamic state in Iraq and the Levant.

Hollande pointed to the urgent need to ensure the protection of minorities in order to allow them to stay in the country as they want in addition to preserving the wealth and the diversity of Iraq, according to the statement.

The Elysee said that ”the French President discussed with Massoum the means of assistance that can be provided by France to Iraq to rescue the civilian population.”

The French government expressed earlier its readiness to receive the Christians of Iraq on its territory.