Slovakia is working on a project involving the resettlement of 25 Christian families to this country who speak the ancient Aramaic language; the language of Jesus Christ. This is according to a statement from Prime Minister Robert Fico that was read in Parliament on Thursday. These families live in an area controlled by the Islamic State militant group and their lives are in danger. The Slovak Government and its European Union partners are expected to agree on how to bring them to Slovakia. The statement read that Slovak migration authorities are working together with NGOs on transferring 151 Syrian Christians who are now in a refugee centre in Iraq. The Cabinet has also announced a €3-million contribution to the EU's trust fund in response to the Syrian migrant crisis. In August when first mentioning its intention to accept only 200 Christian refugees from Syria, the Slovak Government has been criticized for employing discriminatory practices. Thorbjorn Jagland, Secretary-General of the 47-member Council of Europe, wrote that, "Refusing refugees on the grounds of their religion is blatant discrimination. Slovakia should reverse its position". The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had called on European countries to adopt a so-called 'inclusive approach' towards refugees.

Anca Dragu, Photo: AP/TASR