Date : 03/10/2012
BRUSSELS, Oct 3 (KUNA) -- Ambassador Daniel Fried, special advisor to US
Secretary of State on Camp Ashraf in Iraq, is on a tour of Europe to discuss
about developments concerning the Iranian opposition group Mujahedin-e Khalq
(MeK), and the continuing dialogue with EU countries on permanent resettlement
solutions for Camp Ashraf's former residents.
During his visit to Brussels, Fried will meet with officials in the
European Commission and European Parliament.
Speaking at a news conference at the US embassy in Brussels Wednesdy, Fried
said the US has sought to support the peaceful relocation of the residents of
Camp Ashraf, first from Camp Ashraf to Camp Hurriyet (Liberty) and
subsequently out of Iraq.
"Our purpose are humanitarian and not connected with any political motives
of the MeK organisation," he stressed.
Last week, the US government decided to remove MeK from its list of
foreign terrorist organisations.
"We made that decision because our review of MeK's history, and in
particular absence of any confirmed acts of terrorism by the MeK for more than
a decade. We did not develop amnesia for MeK's past actions inside Iraq. MeK
has a bad history inside Iraq.
It has a bad history with the US dating back to the 1970's. We have not
forgotten that," said the US diplomat.
"But now the attention of the US and its partners will turn to
resettlement. That is why I have come to Europe this week," he said.
Fried attended a meeting of the UNHCR in Geneva on Tuesday which was
devoted to the issue.
A number of European countries attended the meeting. The UNHCR asked to
step up and help in an extraordinary basis the resettlement of the MeK
members, he said.
A number of countries indicated they were willing to do so, he noted but
declined to name those countries.
"The Iraqi government was represented at a senior level and we applause
the fact that the Iraqi government approached the matter in such a
constructive spirit.
They too made clear that they want to see resettlement of the people in a
peaceful manner outside Iraq," Fried said.
"Both the US and European countries have started a process of reviewing
individuals at Camp Hurriye. There has been some progress. We have been in
touch with countries outside Europe. But it is true that a great many
residents at Camp Hurriye were formally residing in Europe. They have long
standing ties to Europe," he said.
The US official noted that Camp Ashraf has been effectively closed and
that over 3000 people have moved peacefully to Camp Hurriye near the Baghdad
international airport.
He explained that 200 people remain in Camp Ashraf with agreement of the
Iraqi government. One hundred people were supposed to leave by end of
September and the other 100 will leave pending settlement of issues such as
properties.
The UNHCR is interviewing them one by one and making refugee status
determination, he said.
"Our purpose is humanitarian and not a political act," he stressed as well
as the US State Department continues to have "serious concern about the MeK as
an organisation."
Asked if the MEK can play some kind of a political role in the future to
resolve the Iranian crisis, he replied "they think they have a role but the
United States does not think so."
Meanwhile, the Paris-based leader of MeK, Maryam Rajavi, is expected to
speak at the European Parliament in Brussels today afternoon.(end)
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