ANKARA - Arthur Dewey, the U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary for Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration said on Wednesday that an agreement was reached among Turkey, U.S., U.N., and Iraq to improve a plan regarding return of refugees in Iraq to Turkey.
A meeting took place in Foreign Ministry regarding return process of refugees in Iraq and particularly 9000 Turkish citizens living in Mahmur camp after closure of this camp. Representatives from Turkey, U.S., U.N. and Iraq participated in the meeting.
Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Nabi Sensoy, Kamel Morjane, the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and a representative from Iraqi Interim Governing Council participated in the meeting.
Dewey, who made a statement after the two-hour meeting, said that they had positive meetings regarding the return of refugees from Iraq to Turkey. He added that they not only took up the return of refugees in Mahmur Camp but also the refugees in Iraq.
Noting that refugees should decide by themselves whether they would return or not, Dewey said upon a question regarding the process that sides have reached a consensus on acting as soon as possible.
Dewey said that sides have also reached a consensus on developing a plan.
When asked whether there was a pressure of PKK/KADEK terrorist organization, Dewey said that they have reached a joint understanding on the need of fight against terrorists.
(GC-AY) 19.11.2003