Monday, 26th September 2011
Ashraf refugee “breakthrough” now possible, says EU Chair of Delegation for Relations with Iraq
Monday 26 September 2011
Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson, President of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iraq, has welcomed an apparent breakthrough over the crisis in Camp Ashraf in Northern Iraq, home to 3400 Iranian dissidents.
In a letter received by Mr Stevenson, Baroness Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, confirmed the appointment of Ambassador Jean De Ruyt as her personal envoy on the Camp Ashraf issue. The letter states that the ambassador has been asked “to work with the Government of Iraq, the United Nations and other partners to help solve the situation in Camp Ashraf in line with humanitarian and human rights principles”.
Baroness Ashton’s letter also states that, “Ambassador De Ruyt knows the importance I attach to this issue. I expect him to liaise with all relevant Iraqi interlocutors, with the leaders and residents of Camp Ashraf and with international humanitarian organisations. I have asked him to meet with you and other concerned Members of the European Parliament as well, immediately after taking up his duties.”
Speaking from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Struan Stevenson MEP said:
“I must thank Lady Ashton warmly for this decisive and significant move. Ambassador De Ruyt is a leading diplomat of international renown. He has just completed his term as Belgian Ambassador to the EU, having previously been a diplomat at the UN in New York. I can think of no-one better able to broker a breakthrough in this complex and sensitive issue.
“I and my colleagues in the European Parliament strongly believe that Ambassador De Ruyt should visit Ashraf as soon as possible. This would be a major step towards solving the crisis. If the Iraqi authorities attempt to prevent such a visit, it will be a clear indication of their ominous intentions towards the Ashraf residents.”
Mr Stevenson continued:
“There have already been two horrific attacks on the camp by the Iraqi military, culminating this year in a massacre on 8th April which left 36 dead and 300 seriously injured. Meanwhile the camp is still under siege with limited access for fuel, food and medical supplies.
“With the help of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, all 3400 residents are in the process of being individually interviewed and assessed for refugee status, having each applied for asylum. This process will take several months to complete and it is then the intention to re-settle these refugees in the 27 EU Member States and in other countries outside the EU. But this major operation cannot be completed before the ludicrous deadline of 31 December this year set by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
“The appointment of Ambassador De Ruyt by Baroness Ashton has underlined the seriousness of this issue. The Iraqi government must be pressed to cease the threats and harassment of Camp Ashraf’s population and it needs to cooperate constructively with the UN and EU to resolve this crisis.
“I look forward to working closely with the ambassador to ensure that we can avoid a Srebrenica-style catastrophe occurring at Ashraf.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Struan Stevenson is a Scottish Conservative MEP for Scotland and President of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iraq.
2. For more information, please contact:
Peter Smyth
E: peter@indigopr.com
Tel: 0131 554 1146
Mob: 07766 166 637
Fax: 0131 554 1549
