Bishop Bashar Matti Warda, the head of the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil, expressed his hope that the election of a new president of the United States would positively reflect on the Christians of the Middle East who are looking forward to peace.

Warda said through "Asia News" that the Christians of the region have suffered greatly from the scourges of ongoing conflicts and wars in their countries. Despite their fear of the escalating conflict generating more violence, they still look forward to achieving their simple yet profound hope of living safely with their compatriots in the same homeland, confident that their shared future holds promises of peace, prosperity, and nation-building.

Warda pointed out that the world's eyes are now turned towards Washington, anticipating the elected president to fulfill his electoral promises of ending the conflict in the Middle East. He added: "Christians hope that the American administration will continue its commitment to supporting peace, consolidating the stability of these ancient communities in their homelands, and working with their governments to ensure their survival and prosperity, especially in areas where they form a relative majority.

Warda recalled a previous meeting with Trump in December 2018 at the White House during the signing ceremony of the HR390 decision, which officially criminalized the atrocities committed against Christians and Yazidis as genocide.

He elaborated: "This decision came as a culmination of our campaign aimed at drawing the world's attention to the suffering of Christians and Yazidis, with the support of friends in both the Republican and Democratic parties." What allowed governmental and human rights agencies to investigate the heinous crimes of ISIS and prosecute its members, and to provide direct support to religious institutions so they can assist their communities and help them recover from the effects of the destruction?

Warda praised the close cooperation with the Knights of Columbus since 2014 in gathering and documenting files and testimonies supporting the cause. He pointed out that "the two-year collaboration with members of President Trump's team to complete this file confirmed their understanding of the suffering of these religious communities and their sincere desire to provide support.

The visit of several prominent members of Trump's team to Erbil to assess the conditions of displaced families, listen to their experiences, and engage directly with church leaders and civil society representatives is a concerted effort to achieve stability in the region.

And Warda concluded by affirming the prayer for the leadership in Washington to continue standing by the vulnerable communities and its efforts to address the roots and causes of migration with the governments of the concerned Middle Eastern countries, striving to ensure a brighter future for everyone so that the bitter suffering of the region's peoples due to wars and conflicts comes to an end, "for they deserve a better life.