Saturday, May 26, 2012

Iraq

UN Secretary-General Urges Iraq To Start Camp Ashraf Relocation

Iranian families protest outside Camp Ashraf in Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad, in December.

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By RFE/RL

February 15, 2012

UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Iraqi authorities to begin the relocation process of members of the Iranian opposition Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) from Camp Ashraf.

The residents of Camp Ashraf are set to be moved to a new location within the country called Camp Liberty, as part of a process that aims to see them resettled outside of Iraq.

On January 31, the UN's refugee agency confirmed that Camp Liberty's infrastructure and facilities were in accordance with international humanitarian standards.

At Ban's request, the Iraqi government earlier extended its deadline to close Camp Ashraf from December 31, 2011, to April 30 of this year.

Ban again called on UN member states to accept eligible Camp Ashraf residents who wish to resettle in third countries.

Camp Ashraf has been home to MKO members since the 1980s.

The group is designated a terrorist organization by Iran and the United States.

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by: Abu Hussain from: Iraq

February 15, 2012 20:55

Mr. Ban ki mon and Mr. Martin Kobler should be aware that the Iraqi government can not be trusted. the least thing Mr. Ban ki mon and his representative in Iraq can do is to ask the Iraqi government to give the residents some written guarantees but it seems that Mr. Kobler does not like to put pressure on the Iraqi government and puts all the pressure on the residents of Ashraf. how can a UN representative be so week. I do not understand.

by: Laila from: London

February 16, 2012 08:38

Why does the UN not stand firm against new Iraq dictator, Nouri al-Maliki? Why Martin Kobler is compromising the safety and security of 3,400 innocent civilians of Ashraf including 1,000 women and some children by siding with Iraq's dictator? I thought the UN was supposed to protect these people and not add to their miseries. Martin Kobler has now become a tool for the Iranian and Iraqi regimes. He knows well that Liberty is not habitable even under minimum standards of living condition. That's why they never allowed a small team of Ashraf engineers to visit the camp in advance. But he still says the camp is ready for habitation. Shame on you Martin Kobler, shame on you!