LOC21:19
18:19 GMT
BRUSSELS, Jan 11 (KUNA) -- Luxembourg has since 2013 granted 664 Iraqis refugee status, and a one-year residence permit with slightly different conditions to another 46 Iraqis.
This was revealed by Luxembourg foreign minister Jean Asselborn as quoted by the Luxembourg Times newspaper on Friday.
However, the minister said that he cannot say for certain how many Iraqis currently live in the Grand Duchy given that, after being granted refugee status, they can settle in another EU country.
In a parliamentary question, Fernand Kartheiser, a deputy of the right-wing Alternative Democratic Reform Party has asked Asselborn if it was now time for Iraqi refugees living in Luxembourg to return to their country of origin.
The Luxembourg foreign minister noted that the government follows the political situation closely in Iraq, and the Middle East in general, adding that at present there are no government plans to encourage Iraqis living in Luxembourg to relinquish refugee status and return to their country of origin. (end)
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